Belarusian Catholic Priest Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

A Belarusian court has sentenced 66-year-old Catholic priest Anatol Parakhnevich to three years in prison following a closed-door trial. Father Parakhnevich, who served in the village of Alkovichi since 2007, was arrested by masked security officers in March. While initial investigations reportedly explored treason charges that could have carried a sentence of up to 15 years, religious freedom advocates believe the final conviction involved lesser charges such as insulting officials or supporting extremist activities. Authorities have declined to disclose the specific verdict, citing prohibitions on sharing such information.

In addition to the prison term, the priest was fined 2,250 Belarusian rubles. Church officials have confirmed that an appeal has been filed, though the case has not yet reached the appellate court. While the government has not officially disclosed his location, parishioners believe he is being held at a KGB detention facility in Minsk. Church leadership has remained largely silent regarding the case, which occurs amid a broader government crackdown on religious figures and critics following the disputed 2025 presidential election.