BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

23/10/2008

KGB probably considered bishop a danger to state and expelled him from Belarus

The Ukrainian founder of one of the largest charismatic churches in the Belarusian capital Minsk, Veniamin Brukh, a bishop in the Full Gospel Church, was deported from Belarus last week due to his religious activity, he has suggested to Forum 18 News Service. The KGB secret police and state religious affairs apparatus were monitoring that activity, Veniamin Brukh suggested to Forum 18 speaking by phone from Riga, Latvia. "They probably consider me a danger to the state."

Minsk regional KGB's Information and Public Relations Department directed Forum 18 to the KGB headquarters in central Minsk. Answering its Confidential Line, a spokesman told Forum 18 that the reasons for Brukh's deportation would not yet have been released, but provided contact details for the headquarters' Information and Public Relations Department. On querying whether this would have information if it had not yet been released, the spokesman remarked only: "The person who is supposed to know knows. I'm not supposed to know." At the headquarters' Information and Public Relations Department, a spokesman apologised that while he understood Forum 18 was not in Belarus, he was not prepared to discuss anything with journalists not accredited with the Belarusian Foreign Ministry. Religious communities in Belarus believe the KGB secret police keeps a close eye on their activity. Orthodox believers have also complained of KGB intimidation at worship services.

Source:

http://www.axisglobe.com/article.asp?article=1677

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