Pavel Seviarynets: Lukashenka Is Ill With “Cave Communism”

The regime will just end up in a bad way.

Pavel Seviarynets, co-chairman of the organizing committee for the creation of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party, said that to Charter97.org, commenting on the resolution of Council of Ministers No. 49 establishing a fee for police services during church events:

– Lukashenka’s regime is digging a hole for itself. When the power takes the last thing from people, when believers are told to pay to gather for a holiday, this is a sign of a speedy end. I know that a lot of occupational regimes established taxes associated with faith. They wanted to say that “we rule here, and you do not even utter a word.” A lot of religious processions and pilgrims have been canceled already, the believers are boiling. Belarusian Christian Democracy began collecting signatures to repeal this shameful decree. People are very willing to sign this petition.

I think the regime will just end up in a bad way. A blow to the crosses in Kurapaty, then the extortion for church activities – Belarusian Christians are just in shock. So far, the people are in a daze, but after a month or two, when the time of pilgrims, processions, concerts comes, the believers will face this problem – it will be just a tectonic shift. Many people who tolerated the regime, will begin to protest openly.

– Why is this regime so openly against the faith and Christian values?

– The reason is in the cave communism, which Lukashenka and his entourage are ill with. Unfortunately, this mentality has not changed. A lot of Christians told me: “Here, Lukashenka has started to talk about God.” And now? What would you say after demolished crosses and charges from believers?

In my opinion, everything is clear. This is an untreated illness, the Soviet mentality, which is afraid of the cross, afraid to talk about faith. Yes, he can hide behind some words, but if to judge by deeds, as the Bible teaches us, we see that these deeds are anti-Christian. In recent months, Lukashenka has thrown down several gloves to Belarusian Christians: Kurapaty, whitening of Stalin, extortions from believers. In my opinion, he is looking for an open protest.

– During his message, he again spoke on the subject of the church. He offered to carry out a reform.

– There is nothing to comment on here. This is lack of education plus hatred. I'm just ashamed. Not to mention the way he acts in the political sphere: election fraud, violence. If you pretend that you are the president, sometimes it is better to keep silent. His statement causes disgust. I think that after this spring, everything will become clear to most of Christians. Lukashenka has crossed all the “red lines”.

– In your opinion, is the decision of the Council of Ministers the reason for the return of Belarus to the list of countries violating religious freedoms?

– Human rights to freedom of religion are violated in Belarus. The peak of pressure was in 2004-2007. Then we, together with the churches, collected tens of thousands of signatures and the pressure was lessened. Then the preachers were allowed to come, they stopped sending priests out of the country, stopped arresting them for worships outside the churches. But you can see for yourself that 10-12 years have not passed and everything has returned to normal. Stalinism, the destruction of crosses, extortions from churches, they continue to send priests out of the country. We also see problems with holding Christian events. The regime has not drawn any conclusions.

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