BELARUS: Closing “one of the last remaining opportunities to seek justice”

If Parliament approves a draft Law, individuals will be stripped of the possibility to complain to the UN Human Rights Committee about violations of their rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights....

BELARUS: UN appeal for fined conscientious objector

In December 2021, the United Nations Human Rights Committee asked Belarus to respond in the case of 33-year-old Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector Dmitry Mozol. In February 2021, a court in Pinsk fined him four months'...

BELARUS: “Alternative service exists, not for me”

Brest Regional Court unconstitutionally rejected an appeal by 21-year-old Jehovah Witness conscientious objector Viktor Kalina against his conviction and large fine for refusing to do military service. The appeal rejection came one week before Belarus'...

Jehovah’s Witnesses in Belarus enjoy first nationwide gathering in 12 years

MINSK, Belarus—From July 15 to 17, 2011, Jehovah’s Witnesses held a three-day convention in Minsk entitled, “Let God’s Kingdom Come!” The delegates came from all six administrative districts in Belarus. The peak attendance was 5,156,...

Conscientious Objector Acquitted In Belarus

The central court in the Belarusian city of Homel has acquitted a Jehovah's Witness who had been charged with avoiding mandatory military service, RFE/RL's Belarus Service reports. Dzmitry Smyk said that his belief did not...