Officers from Postavy District Police Department stopped the activities of a 52-year-old Lithuanian citizen who impersonated a spiritual parent, held illegal religious services in a village, and attempted to register a fake religious community.
Home “church services” and fundraising
A foreigner, M.R., purchased a house in Kuklyany village, Postavy District and decided to establish his own spiritual center there. Lacking any relevant religious education or permission from Postavy District Executive Committee to hold public events, he began actively attracting people.
Through online messengers, he invited citizens to Old Believer “church services” at his home, collecting monetary donations from the “flock.”
Dishonesty of local residents and falsification of documents
As the investigation revealed, the detained did more than illegal meetings. Citizen M.R. had attempted to legalize his activities and applied to Postavy District Executive Committee to register a religious community.
Executive committee specialists explained to him in detail the requirements of the Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations and provided clear recommendations on the application process. However, the foreigner ignored the legal requirements and resorted to forgery. The district executive committee’s working group uncovered glaring facts of falsification:
- Fictitious meetings: general meetings of founders were not actually held.
- Signature collection fraud: Local residents were told they were signing for the improvement of the local church and cemetery, but in reality they were “becoming” founders of the community.
- Assumed names: citizens who were not even aware of it, were included in the list of founders.
- Illegal charter: the document completely contradicted the legislation of the Republic of Belarus.
The working group transferred all materials with evidence of falsification to law enforcement agencies.
Impending punishment
A case has been opened against the false priest for violating the rules for organizing or holding mass events. The Lithuanian citizen faces deportation from the country for his offenses.
Lithuania’s reaction
According to Yevgeny Grigoriev, Secretary of the Supreme Council of the Old Orthodox Pomor Church of Lithuania and Deputy Chairman of Vilnius Old Believers Religious Community, M.R. is well known in Old Believers circles and was previously associated with Perelaz community. He noted that his activities had already attracted attention in Lithuania.
According to E. Grigoriev, in Lithuania M.R. proclaimed himself a spiritual parent, seized church property that did not belong to him, and still has not returned this property to the Old Orthodox Pomor Church of Lithuania.
“After executing the court’s order to transfer the property, he changed the locks again the next day, thereby making ‘gangster-style takeover’ other’s property and still holds Perelaz Church building in his hands, defying the court’s order. This has been going on since 2009,” said E. Grigoryev.
Perelazy community in Lithuania has existed since 1794. Perelazy Church building is one of the most beautiful wooden Old Believers churches in Lithuania. It is located in Perelazy village, Jonava district and is a historical architectural monument.
Commentary from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus
“Belarus is open to foreign visitors. However, law enforcement will not ignore any violations of the law. Work in this area will continue,” the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus emphasized.
This case once again reminds us: Belarus is hospitable to foreigners who respect its laws and culture. However, those who try to use the country for doubtful schemes and deceive citizens will face a tough and fair response from the law enforcement system.