BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

18/05/2007

Belarus Expels Another Foreign Protestant

Belarusian authorities have annulled a residence permit for Jaroslaw Lukasik, a Polish national who has lived with his Belarusian wife and three children in Myadzel Raion, Minsk Oblast, since 1999, Belapan reported on May 17. Lukasik must now leave Belarus by June 7. Lukasik is a member of the United Church of Christians of Evangelical Faiths in Belarus. The official reason for his expulsion is "activities aimed at harming the national security of the Republic of Belarus in the sphere of relations between faiths." "My husband has not committed any offenses against national security or in the sphere of relations between faiths. He has not been charged with a single related offense," Lukasik's wife told Belapan. Earlier this week Belarus expelled a U.S. Protestant minister, also charging him with "harming the national security of the Republic of Belarus" (see "RFE/RL Newsline," May 16, 2007). JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/05/3-CEE/cee-180507.asp