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LTCulture12 days ago

Lithuanian Old Believer priest detained in Belarus

A Lithuanian citizen and Old Believer priest, M. R., was detained in Belarus during Pentecost services. According to an anonymous source, he was arrested by police while conducting a service. The detention is reportedly connected to alleged document forgery related to registering a religious community. Authorities claim the community is not officially registered in Belarus. The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the embassy in Belarus has been informed of the detention but did not release further details. A representative of the Lithuanian Old Believer Church stated that M. R. is a知名成员

A Lithuanian citizen and Old Believer priest has been detained in the village of Kukliany in the Pastavy district of Belarus.

“He was conducting a service when the police arrived and arrested him,” a source, who preferred to remain anonymous due to security reasons, told LRT.lt. ​ The priest, identified as M. R., was detained during Pentecost services while visiting Belarus to participate in local community events. ​ The detention is reportedly linked to allegations of document forgery during an attempt to register a religious community. He is suspected of lacking the required paperwork, as the community is not officially registered in Belarus, according to a local Telegram news channel that initially reported the arrest. ​ The Foreign Ministry said that the Lithuanian embassy in Belarus has been informed of the detention, but cannot disclose the individual’s identity. ​ Jevgenijus Grigorjevas, a representative of the Lithuanian Old Believer Church, said M. R. is well known within the community and was previously associated with the Perelozai parish, noting that his activities have also drawn attention in Lithuania. ​ Belarusian authorities have not yet released official information on the detention.

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Source document: Anonymous source

1 reports

LRT (English)State / PublicCenter12 days ago
Lithuanian Old Believer priest detained in Belarus

A Lithuanian citizen and Old Believer priest, M. R., was detained in Belarus during Pentecost services. According to an anonymous source, he was arrested by police while conducting a service. The detention is reportedly connected to alleged document forgery related to registering a religious community. Authorities claim the community is not officially registered in Belarus. The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the embassy in Belarus has been informed of the detention but did not release further details. A representative of the Lithuanian Old Believer Church stated that M. R. is a知名成员

Bias read (Center): The article presents facts without overtly favoring any side. It includes multiple perspectives—anonymous sources, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, and a church representative—and does not use emotionally charged language or omit key context.

Official sources cited

  • other Anonymous source
  • other Local Telegram news channel
  • government Lithuanian Foreign Ministry
  • organisation Jevgenijus Grigorjevas, representative of the Lithuanian Old Believer Church

Go to the primary sources (4)

The official sources this coverage is built on. Read them directly to bypass framing.

  • otherAnonymous source
  • otherLocal Telegram news channel
  • governmentLithuanian Foreign Ministry
  • organisationJevgenijus Grigorjevas, representative of the Lithuanian Old Believer Church