Minsk City Court dissolves New Life Church

October 17, Pozirk. The Minsk City Court has dissolved New Life, a Full Gospel congregation, the Chryścijanskaja Vizija initiative said on Telegram.

The claim was brought by the Minsk City Executive Committee on September 15 and satisfied by Judge Taćciana Daraščonak today.

The Minsk government claimed that the church failed to re-register in 2004 in accordance with the 2002 law “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations” and acted outside the scope of its charter.

Authorities also argued that some of New Life’s media were declared “extremist.”

Pastor Viačasłaŭ Hančarenka denounced the decision as unfounded. He said the church did apply for re-registration in 2004 but officials rejected the application.

The Protestant church was founded in 1992, and authorities have been harassing it since the early 2000s.

Following the 2020 presidential election, Hančarenka condemned police brutality against protesters. In February 2021, the church was forcibly evicted from its building, a former barn renovated by the community. People prayed in the streets and online.

In September 2022, Hančarenka was arrested and fined 3,200 rubels ($970 at the current exchange rate).

In June 2023, there were reports of the demolition of the church building. Authorities plan to build a school at the site. Hančarenka called the demolition a “fatal mistake” and warned those responsible of God’s vengeance.

Two months ago, Hančarenka and his son-in-law Ila Budaj were detained for 10 and five days, respectively, under the Administrative Offenses Code. Reports said that 20 armed men from the interior ministry’s organized crime unit raided his home.

The pastor was convicted of defying police orders, and his daughter’s husband of disorderly conduct.

A Minsk court then declared Instagram posts and a YouTube video by the New Life Church extremist.

The Maładziečna District Court also labeled a video from 2020 titled “Pastor Viačasłaŭ Hančarenka Condemns Violence and Calls on Authorities to Repent!” extremist.

The activity of unregistered or dissolved congregations may entail criminal liability and punishment in the form of a fine or imprisonment.