Source: www.forum18.org
Date: December 19, 2024
https://www.forum18.org/archiv
By Felix Corley, Forum 18
In October 2023, September 2024 and November 2024, armed, masked men in
camouflage uniform raided and broke up meetings for worship of a Council of
Churches Baptist church in Melitopol in the Russian-occupied part of
Zaporizhzhia Region. "They checked the passports of those present,
questioned the deacon, Sergey Potemkin, and ordered everyone to disperse,"
Baptists said after the November raid.
Officers later summoned Deacon Potemkin for questioning at the Russian
Police's Department for the Struggle with Extremism and Terrorism. "They
questioned him at length about the life of the church, its leaders and
other things," Baptists noted (see below).
Council of Churches Baptists choose not to seek state permission to
exercise freedom of religion or belief wherever they have congregations
(see below).
After the September raid, the local Russian police officer summoned the
church's Pastor Dmitry Malakhov. He demanded that Malakhov sign a record
that he had led a religious service without informing the authorities and
that he had conducted illegal missionary activity. Pastor Malakhov refused
to sign anything, the Baptists noted. He explained that this was a regular
service and that church members had the right to hold such a service under
the Russian Constitution (see below).
First Deputy Prosecutor Dmitry Zagoruyko at the Russian-controlled
Zaporizhzhia Prosecutor's Office drew up a record of an offence against the
church's Pastor Dmitry Malakhov and handed it to court (presumably
Melitopol Inter-District Court). On 18 December, the Judge at the court in
Melitopol closed the administrative case because of the statute of
limitations, local Baptists told Forum 18. They noted that the prosecutor
disagrees and intends to appeal (see below).
The woman who answered the phone at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia
Prosecutor's Office refused to put Forum 18 through to Prosecutor
Zagoruyko. "He doesn't talk by phone to anyone about anything," she told
Forum 18 (see below).
Forum 18 was unable to reach the Russian Melitopol Police to find out why
its officers raided a meeting for worship. It did not answer the phone
whenever Forum 18 called (see below).
Russian-controlled courts in occupied Ukraine continue to hear cases to
punish "illegal missionary activity" (Russian Administrative Code Article
5.26, Part 4). This carries a fine for individuals of 5,000 to 50,000
Russian Roubles (see below).
On 9 December, Judge Nikita Mazurak of the Russian-controlled Artyomovsk
District Court in Luhansk heard a case against 40-year-old Aliaskhab
Suleimanov. The Court did not respond by the end of the working day of 19
December as to the outcome of the hearing (see below).
In mid-October, a court in Russian-occupied Luhansk Region fined a local
religious leader one week's average local wage for "illegal missionary
activity" (see below).
On 18 November, the branch of Military Brotherhood from the Russian town of
Solnechnogorsk in Moscow Region (part of a Russian nationwide veterans'
association) said one of its members deployed to the zone of the "special
military operation" (SMO, Russia's term for its war against Ukraine) prised
the lettering "Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses" from the outside wall
of their seized place of worship (see below).
"These letters will form part of a new exhibition dedicated to the SMO
[Russia's war against Ukraine] at the museum of military glory in
Solnechnogorsk," its leader Andrei Vorobyov declared on its VKontakte
social media account. He described the removal of the lettering as an
"important step as part of patriotic education" (see below).
The woman who answered the phone at the Solnechnogorsk branch of Military
Brotherhood told Forum 18 that Vorobyov was in Crimea, but would not give a
number for him. Asked why a member of the organisation had vandalised the
Jehovah's Witness place of worship in occupied Ukraine, she laughed and
then put the phone down (see below).
The Russian Orthodox Church appears to have taken over the Church of St
Petro Mohyla in Mariupol in Russian-occupied Donetsk Region. The Orthodox
Church of Ukraine (OCU), which was granted autocephaly (independence) by
the Ecumenical Patriarch in 2019, built the church in Primorsky District in
the south of the city (see below).
The OCU decorated the exterior in the distinctive Petrykivka folk art
tradition in 2020. "Now the occupiers have decided to 'bring the church to
comply with the canons of the Russian Orthodox Church'," the exiled
Mariupol city council noted on its Facebook page. "For this they sent
'Orthodox volunteers' to the city. They're going to change the look of the
building."
Fr Vasili of the Moscow Patriarchate's Donetsk and Mariupol Diocese insists
that the church belongs to the Moscow Patriarchate. "It's now in the
jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate," he told Forum 18 from Donetsk.
Reminded that a different religious community – the Orthodox Church of
Ukraine – had built the church, not the Moscow Patriarchate, he
responded: "It's on the territory of the Moscow Patriarchate." He then put
the phone down (see below).
Occupation forces repeatedly forcibly close Ukrainian religious communities
Russian occupation forces have repeatedly forcibly closed religious
communities (https://www.forum18.org/archi
Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory.
Russian-imposed Governor Yevgeny Balitsky banned four religious communities
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
parts of Zaporizhzhia Region in December 2022: the Greek Catholic Church,
Grace Protestant Church, Melitopol Christian Church, and Word of Life
Protestant Church. (The buildings of Grace, Melitopol Christian, and Word
of Life churches had been seized in September 2022
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Balitsky accused these Churches of links with foreign "special services"
and ordered all their property seized.
A February 2024 meeting of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Regional
Administration, chaired by Russian-imposed Governor Balitsky, praised the
"halting of the work of religious sects which had taken part in organising
mass disorder and anti-Russian activity", the governor's website noted on
26 February (https://www.forum18.org/archi
Russian occupation officials treat all Ukrainian religious communities
which have not received Russian state registration as illegal
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
It is illegal under international law for Russia to enforce its own laws on
occupied Ukrainian territory, as Russia is required to leave Ukrainian law
in force
(https://ihl-databases.icrc.or
Melitopol: 2023 raid on meeting for worship
In October 2023, armed and masked men in military uniform raided the Sunday
meeting for worship (https://www.forum18.org/archi
of the Council of Churches Baptist congregation in the Russian-occupied
city of Melitopol. Several men in civilian clothes accompanied the armed
men, bringing the total number of raiders to about 20.
Council of Churches Baptists choose not to seek state permission to
exercise freedom of religion or belief wherever they have congregations.
"Soldiers in masks entered the hall and, without identifying themselves,
ordered everyone to leave the building, and then began inspecting the
house," church leaders noted in October 2023
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
the rooms, including in cupboards. They seized several CDs, two video
surveillance recordings, and one copy of each piece of literature.
The Russian soldiers seized two computers for inspection from the home of
the Pastor, Dmitry Malakhov. They warned him the police would summon him
and he would then face a court
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Russian Roubles. They added that until it gets Russian registration, the
church cannot meet. It appears Pastor Malakhov was not fined after the raid
and questioning.
Melitopol: Two 2024 raids on meetings for worship
On 18 September 2024, nearly a year after the previous raid, men in masks
"unexpectedly" arrived again at the Council of Churches Baptist
congregation In Melitopol and broke up its meeting for worship. "They began
checking literature from the church library and studying who had published
it," local Baptists noted. "They checked everyone's phones and passports."
The men interrogated Pastor Dmitry Malakhov, and prepared a record of an
offence against him. As during interrogation in 2023, they again asked him
why the church is not registered with the Russian authorities, what
organisation it belongs to and who its leader is.
The local police officer summoned Pastor Malakhov on 12 October. He
demanded that Malakhov sign a record that he had led a religious service
without informing the authorities and that he had conducted illegal
missionary activity. Pastor Malakhov refused to sign anything, the Baptists
noted. He explained that this was a regular service and that church members
had the right to hold such a service under the Russian Constitution.
Armed, masked men in camouflage uniform again invaded the church's Sunday
meeting for worship on 10 November as children were singing. "They checked
the passports of those present, questioned the deacon, Sergey Potemkin, and
ordered everyone to disperse," Baptists said.
Officers later summoned Deacon Potemkin for questioning at the Russian
Police's Department for the Struggle with Extremism and Terrorism. "They
questioned him at length about the life of the church, its leaders and
other things," Baptists noted.
The Russian Melitopol Police did not answer the phone whenever Forum 18
called between 16 and 19 December.
Melitopol: Court rejects case against Pastor, but Prosecutor to appeal
On 9 December, First Deputy Prosecutor Dmitry Zagoruyko at the
Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Prosecutor's Office drew up a record of an
offence against Baptist Pastor Malakhov and handed it to court (presumably
Melitopol Inter-District Court). The court set a date for hearing the case
of 18 December.
The woman who answered the phone at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia
Prosecutor's Office refused to put Forum 18 through to Prosecutor
Zagoruyko. "He doesn't talk by phone to anyone about anything," she told
Forum 18 from Melitopol on 16 December. Asked why he had drawn up a record
of an offence against Baptist Pastor Malakhov and handed it to court, she
repeated her earlier remarks. "No one else here is competent to answer your
questions. Arrange an appointment here in person."
On 18 December, the Judge at the court in Melitopol closed the
administrative case because of the statute of limitations, local Baptists
told Forum 18. They noted that the prosecutor disagrees and intends to
appeal.
The man who answered the phone at Melitopol Inter-District Court told Forum
18 that it was not the court. The Court did not reply to a written question
about the case sent the same day.
More "illegal missionary activity" court cases
Russian-controlled courts in occupied Ukraine continue to hear cases to
punish "illegal missionary activity" (Russian Administrative Code Article
5.26, Part 4). This carries a fine for individuals of 5,000 to 50,000
Russian Roubles.
On 9 December, Judge Nikita Mazurak of the Russian-controlled Artyomovsk
District Court in Luhansk heard a case against 40-year-old Aliaskhab
Suleimanov under Russian Administrative Code Article 5.26, Part 4
("Russians conducting missionary activity"), according to the court
website. Forum 18 has been unable to reach the court to find out the result
of the hearing. Calls to the court did not connect and the court did not
respond to a written enquiry by the end of the working day of 19 December.
In mid-October, a court in Russian-occupied Luhansk Region fined a local
religious leader 5,000 Russian Roubles for "illegal missionary activity".
This represents about one week's average local wage.
On 22 July, Telmanovo District Court in Russian-occupied Donetsk Region
fined a local religious leader
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
missionary activity".
Following repeated raids on his unregistered Council of Churches Baptist
congregation, on 27 April, the Russian-controlled Krasnodon Town Court in
occupied Luhansk Region fined Pastor Vladimir Rytikov 5,000 Russian Roubles
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
"illegal missionary activity" (Russian Administrative Code Article 5.26,
Part 4) for a meeting for worship of his unregistered Baptist congregation
in January at which he was not present. "This is half my [monthly]
pension," he noted. On 11 June, Luhansk Supreme Court upheld the fine
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
The head of the Russian Krasnodon police, Colonel Sergey Krupa – who had
signed the order to hand the case to court - refused to explain to Forum 18
in April (https://www.forum18.org/archi
had brought the prosecution against Pastor Rytikov for a meeting of his
church in a home.
On 22 August, Krasnodon Court Bailiff Lieutenant Natalya Gavran drew up a
further record of an offence against Pastor Rytikov. Gavran issued him a
summary fine (https://www.forum18.org/archi
10,000 Russian Roubles, representing about one month's pension. He had
failed to pay within the stipulated 60 days the fine handed down in April.
"Each time they double the amount," local Baptists told Forum 18. Pastor
Rytikov has not paid the latest fine either.
In September 2023, officials of a Russian Federal Security Service (FSB)
department responsible for limiting the exercise of freedom of religion or
belief in occupied Donetsk Region seized two priests of the Orthodox Church
of Ukraine (OCU), Fr Khristofor Khrimli, and Fr Andri Chui. On 22
September, Telmanovo District Court fined both priests
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
citizens) under Russian Administrative Code Article 5.26, Part 5
("Foreigners conducting missionary activity"). The court also ordered them
to be deported "beyond the bounds of the Russian Federation".
Russian occupation officials in October 2023 illegally transferred Fr
Khristofor and Fr Andri to Russia's Rostov Region, where they were held in
a Deportation Centre. In early 2024, Russia deported Fr Khristofor and Fr
Andri to Georgia (https://www.forum18.org/archi
The Russian occupation authorities also use Russian Administrative Code
Article 5.26 to punish the exercise of freedom of religion or belief in
Crimea, which Russia illegally occupied in 2014. Many of those targeted are
Muslims who lead prayers in mosques
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Damage to seized Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall
On 18 November, the branch of Military Brotherhood from the Russian town of
Solnechnogorsk in Moscow Region (part of a Russian nationwide veterans'
association) said one of its members deployed to the zone of the "special
military operation" (SMO, Russia's term for its war against Ukraine) prised
the lettering "Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses" from the outside wall
of their seized place of worship.
The Solnechnogorsk branch of Military Brotherhood described Jehovah's
Witnesses as an "extremist" organisation in line with the Russian Supreme
Court decision of 2017 banning the organisation
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Since 2017, courts in Russia
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Russian-occupied Crimea
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
hundreds of Jehovah's Witnesses for exercising freedom of religion or
belief. Since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it has not
allowed Jehovah's Witnesses to meet for worship in the newly-occupied parts
of Ukraine. The Russian military have seized many of their Kingdom Halls.
"These letters will form part of a new exhibition dedicated to the SMO
[Russia's war against Ukraine] at the museum of military glory in
Solnechnogorsk," its leader Andrei Vorobyov declared on its VKontakte
social media account. He described the removal of the lettering as an
"important step as part of patriotic education".
The Solnechnogorsk branch of Military Brotherhood posted a video on
VKontakte the same day showing a man in camouflage uniform prising the
letters off. It did not identify the location in Russian-occupied Ukraine.
Forum 18 was unable to reach Vorobyov to find out why a member of his
organisation had vandalised the property of a religious organisation and
why it intends to take the letters from occupied Ukraine to Russia.
The woman who answered the phone at the Solnechnogorsk branch of Military
Brotherhood on 19 December told Forum 18 that Vorobyov was in Crimea but
would not give a number for him. Asked why a member of the organisation had
vandalised the Jehovah's Witness place of worship in occupied Ukraine, she
laughed and then put the phone down.
Mariupol: Moscow Patriarchate remodels church seized from Orthodox Church
of Ukraine
The Russian Orthodox Church appears to have taken over the Church of St
Petro Mohyla in Mariupol in Russian-occupied Donetsk Region. The Orthodox
Church of Ukraine (OCU), which was granted autocephaly (independence) by
the Ecumenical Patriarch in 2019, built the church in Primorsky District in
the south of the city.
Since Russia occupied Crimea in 2014 and launched its full-scale invasion
of Ukraine in 2022, it has tried to prevent the OCU continuing to meet for
worship. It has forcibly closed its churches and its priests have fled,
both from Crimea (https://www.forum18.org/archi
from other parts of Russian-occupied Ukraine. The mutilated body of one OCU
priest from the occupied part of Kherson Region was found on the street
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
officials took him from his home.
The OCU bought the building in Mariupol in 1997. After rebuilding it over
the next 20 years as the Church of St Petro Mohyla, it decorated the
exterior in the distinctive Petrykivka folk art tradition, named after a
village in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk Region. The work was carried out in
2020 by a team of artists led by the Lviv painter Olga Cheromushkina.
On 23 June 2022, the Russian military brought a delegation of Moscow
Patriarchate priests to Mariupol. There they toured churches, including the
Church of St Petro Mohyla. "After the visit of the Moscow FSB agents in
cassocks, it became known that the whole large library, collected by
volunteers and benefactors, was seized and burned in the yard," Petro
Andriushchenko, advisor to the (Ukrainian) Mayor of Mariupol who had to
flee the city, announced two days later
(https://www.forum18.org/archi
Andriushchenko added that the Church of St Petro Mohyla, "built with the
support of the townspeople", was threatened. "Now the occupiers are
deciding the issue of its demolition or remodelling in accordance with the
canons of the Russian Orthodox Church."
By late 2024, it seems the Moscow Patriarchate is remodelling the church in
Russian style. "Now the occupiers have decided to 'bring the church to
comply with the canons of the Russian Orthodox Church'," the exiled
Mariupol city council noted on its Facebook page on 6 November 2024. "For
this they sent 'Orthodox volunteers' to the city. They're going to change
the look of the building."
Ukraine's Culture and Strategic Communications Minister of Mykola
Tochytskyi condemned the Russian treatment of the church as "cultural
genocide". "The desire to change the unique decoration of the church in
accordance with the canons of the Russian Orthodox Church is a direct
attempt to displace Ukrainian culture and impose alien values on us," he
declared on 6 November. "This church, which was a spiritual support for the
people of Mariupol in the most difficult times, is now turning into an
instrument of hostile propaganda."
Fr Vasili of the Moscow Patriarchate's Donetsk and Mariupol Diocese insists
that the church belongs to the Moscow Patriarchate. "It's now in the
jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate," he told Forum 18 from Donetsk on
19 December. Reminded that a different religious community – the Orthodox
Church of Ukraine – had built the church, not the Moscow Patriarchate, he
responded: "It's on the territory of the Moscow Patriarchate." He then put
the phone down.
The OCU priest of St Petro Mohyla Church, Fr Roman Peretyatko, had to flee
in haste when Russian forces occupied Mariupol. He insists that any changes
the Russians make to their place of worship will be reversed.
"Whatever happens to the church, when we return this territory we will
rebuild it," Fr Roman told Suspilne Donbas news website for an 11 November
article. "This is a building, it can be restored, redone, the ceiling can
be replaced, the walls can be painted again. Unfortunately, we cannot bring
back the people who died there in Mariupol." (END)
More reports on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Occupied
Ukraine (https://www.forum18.org/archi
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