On April 30, Catholic priest Andrzej Yukhnevich, rector of the church in Shumilino and head of the coordination group for rectors of monastic communities in Belarus, was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
The information was reported by the Telegram channel Christians Against War. This marks the second instance of a Catholic priest in the country receiving a lengthy prison sentence. The trial was conducted behind closed doors, excluding both the press and the public.
In May 2024, Fr Andrzej was detained after taking a photo with the white, red, and white flag alongside the Ukrainian flag. Initially, he faced accusations of “sabotage activities,” which later shifted to charges related to alleged crimes against sexual inviolability that supposedly occurred ten years prior. Fr Andrzej has denied all wrongdoing, asserting that the charges were fabricated and that he endured torture while in pre-trial detention. Supporters of the priest claim there were no complaints against him at any time.
Catholic Bishop Oleh Butkevych attended the trial and prayed in a nearby chapel. The verdict has not yet come into effect, and an appeal is anticipated.
Observers suggest that Fr Andrzej's case highlights a troubling trend: holding an anti-war stance and advocating for independence within the church can result in politically motivated charges with little basis in reality.