Belarus Seeks Arrest of Two Christian Religious Freedom Advocates

Belarusian authorities have initiated criminal proceedings against two prominent Christian advocates, Protestant preacher Sergiy Melyanets and Orthodox theologian Natallia Vasilevich. Both individuals, who currently reside outside of Belarus, were added to Russia’s Federal Wanted List at the request of the Belarusian government. While the specific criminal charges remain undisclosed, officials have refused to provide details to rights organizations, including Forum 18, regarding the nature of the investigations.

Melyanets, who fled to Poland in 2024, previously faced administrative detention after attending a court hearing to pray for a journalist. He suspects the current criminal case is linked to his history of supporting opposition activists and his interviews with independent media outlets, which authorities have labeled as extremist. Vasilevich, a co-founder of the rights group Christian Vision, has lived abroad since 2015. Both advocates maintain that their work is driven by their Christian conscience, despite the ongoing pressure from Belarusian authorities.