New law on religion made significantly difficult the activities of Krishna followers :: Charter'97 :: News

When the new law “On freedom of religions and religion organizations” came into forth “all the activities according to Statute of the Krishna followers of the Republic of Belarus became illegal”. This information is included in an appeal to the Administration of Lukashenko, the governemt, and the parliament of Belarus. Besides, the appeal was distributed among human rights organizations and diplomatic missions that accredited in Belarus. The appeal was signed by Sergey Malakhovskiy, Alexander Karzov, and Andrey Zubko, representatives of the Krishna communities.

Recently, as it was mentioned in the appeal, new problems have appeared while implementing main activities of the all Krishna communities: distribution of a religion literature, glorifying all saint names of God (Khary, Krishna, Rama) and distribution of a blessed food. For example, distribution of the literature, according to the new law, could be conducted only in facilities that belong to religion organizations or in places that were provided by the local authorities. However, because of the absence of their own facilities and refusing of the authorities to provide facilities to Krishna followers, they conduct their activities out of doors. In the regards of the Krishna followers’ out-door activities they are subjected to detonations by militia and following persecutions. In the result, “ communities are under the risk of getting a warning on suspension of the activities with a future liquidation”.

Registration of new communities “meet irresistible obstacles” said authors of the appeal. Besides, the Krishna followers are “under the risk of firing and sending to a psychiatric hospital”. Invitation of spiritual teachers to Belarus, citizens of other countries became very complicated. It is happened because of the impossibility of registration of Association of the communities of the Krishna followers. The representatives of the Krishna communities express their hope for “assistance and support of all intelligent and prudent people, and protection on behalf of the human rights organizations”. Sergey Malakhovskiy commented the appeal to BelaPAN: “ We are awkward for the authorities only because we exist. There is no other democratic country where the Krishna followers meet so many obstacles on their way. During the existence of our movement starting from the1980th all followers got rid off unhealthy habits, received a spiritual education. They follow the religion commandments and the state laws. Many of them are ready participate in charitable programs. We think, the activities of the authorities on promotion of one religion encourage religious intolerance, escalate of tension, discreditation of power, lost of the rest of respect to our country on an international arena”.