A Polish Catholic missionary order has appealed for international support after Belarus sentenced one of its senior priests to 13 years imprisonment in what religious freedom advocates describe as part of an escalating crackdown on clergy.
Newsroom (May 27, 2025, 10:03, Gaudium Press) Father Andrzej Juchniewicz, OMI, a dual Polish-Belarusian citizen and chairman of religious superiors in Belarus, was convicted April 30 in a closed trial at Vitebsk Regional Court. The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate confirmed the verdict but noted the proceedings lacked transparency and public access.
“The charges changed multiple times, from alleged subversive activities to unspecified criminal offenses,” Father Marcin Wrzos, OMI spokesman stated. “We maintain his complete innocence and will pursue all legal appeals.”
The case follows the April imprisonment of Father Henrykh Akalatovich, a 68-year-old priest sentenced to 11 years for alleged treason. Both priests appear on Belarusian human rights groups’ lists of 1,186 recognized political prisoners.
Shifting Allegations
Initial reports suggested Father Juchniewicz faced charges related to social media posts displaying Belarusian and Ukrainian flags. However, independent Catholic outlet Katolik.life reported the court ultimately convicted him on unsubstantiated sexual misconduct claims – allegations the local diocese said it never received prior to trial.
“The lengthy trial process suggests authorities had difficulty substantiating any charges,” Katolik.life editors noted, adding that Vitebsk Bishop Oleg Butkevich attended sessions but was barred from conducting a canonical investigation.
Wider Pattern of Persecution
The sentences continue a pattern of religious persecution in Belarus since President Alexander Lukashenko’s contested 2020 re-election and brutal crackdown on dissent.
Father Akalatovich, who helped revive Catholic life after Soviet persecution, wrote from detention that his espionage trial represented “not a judgment of me, but of the entire Catholic Church in Belarus.”
International Response
With limited ability to intervene legally, the Oblates emphasize spiritual solidarity.
“We cannot visit or communicate with Father Juchniewicz in detention,” Father Wrzos said. “He was always a joyful, dedicated pastor. Now we ask Christians worldwide to pray for him and all persecuted clergy.”
The Belarusian Catholic hierarchy has not publicly commented on either case, reflecting the delicate position of religious leaders under the authoritarian regime.
Context
Belarus’s Catholic minority (approximately 10% of 9.4 million people) has faced increasing restrictions since 2020, when hundreds of thousands fled the country following violent government suppression of protests. Analysts suggest the clergy prosecutions aim to eliminate potential sources of dissent ahead of Belarus’s continued alignment with Russia.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has repeatedly designated Belarus as a “country of particular concern” for systematic violations of religious freedom.
Next Steps
The Oblates continue pursuing legal appeals while documenting what they characterize as fabricated cases against clergy. Meanwhile, human rights groups warn the imprisoned priests face severe health risks in Belarus’s penal system.
“The world cannot ignore these injustices,” Father Wrzos said. “When religious leaders become political prisoners, it threatens the conscience of humanity.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from OSV and Katolik.life
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