By Islam El-Sakka
A court in Belarus has sentenced Roman Catholic priest Anatoly Parakhnevich, 66, to three years in prison on charges of insulting the authorities and extremism, the Viasna Human Rights Center said Thursday. The closed-door trial took place last month, and Parakhnevich has rejected the charges and plans to appeal.
Activism and arrest
Parakhnevich, the parish priest in Alkovichy in northwestern Belarus, had openly opposed Russia's invasion of Ukraine and condemned Belarus' role in the war. He organized aid collections for Ukrainian refugees and, in a sermon, asked parishioners: “Will our own consciences ever forgive us?” He has been in custody since his arrest in March and suffered a heart attack while detained, according to Viasna.
Wider crackdown on clergy
The sentencing reflects a broader campaign against religious communities in Belarus. Dozens of Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant clergy have been jailed, silenced, or forced into exile since the 2020 presidential election protests. A new law signed by President Alexander Lukashenko further restricts religious organizations, mandating reregistration and barring individuals labeled extremists from leading parishes.
International condemnation
Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called the verdict “heartbreaking” and “politically motivated,” saying repression continues and prisons are filling with new political prisoners. Viasna currently counts 884 political prisoners in Belarus.
