Maybe I'm slow... I'm looking for the sentence, "Okołotowicz was accused and convicted of ..." ?!?! What is the state of Belarus's claim and accusation? All we have is ‘high treason’?
More searching in a couple languages, it appears to be the case - they don't want to repeat and highlight the criticism. An AP article speaks about Akalatovich, one of 1,265 political prisoners "who was critical of the government in his sermons..."
So, if you are in the minority position and critical of the status quo and saying things like "Lukashenko has a flat nose" to a big enough audience, you too might be sent away. History is rhyming again.
It might be noted that the Orthodox Church in Belarus is controlled by the Moscow Patriarchate and that there are probably more Belarusians at Catholic Mass or Divine Liturgy on any given Sunday than at the Russian Orthodox churches. Hence the dictatorship's concern about the Catholic Church.
St. Paul and St. Silas, pray for our priests in chains!
Maybe I'm slow... I'm looking for the sentence, "Okołotowicz was accused and convicted of ..." ?!?! What is the state of Belarus's claim and accusation? All we have is ‘high treason’?
More searching in a couple languages, it appears to be the case - they don't want to repeat and highlight the criticism. An AP article speaks about Akalatovich, one of 1,265 political prisoners "who was critical of the government in his sermons..."
So, if you are in the minority position and critical of the status quo and saying things like "Lukashenko has a flat nose" to a big enough audience, you too might be sent away. History is rhyming again.
Did he tell people to go out and vote? That's high treason for a country that rigs elections every election cycle.
It might be noted that the Orthodox Church in Belarus is controlled by the Moscow Patriarchate and that there are probably more Belarusians at Catholic Mass or Divine Liturgy on any given Sunday than at the Russian Orthodox churches. Hence the dictatorship's concern about the Catholic Church.