Ukraine: Information on the treatment of Pentecostals
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 April 1993 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | UKR13867 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ukraine: Information on the treatment of Pentecostals, 1 April 1993, UKR13867, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6acd978.html [accessed 3 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Reports from the Minority Rights Group and The Encyclopedia of Religion indicate that there are over 600,000 Pentecostals in the former Soviet Union (Minority Rights Group Jan. 1991, 2; Encyclopedia of Religion 1987, 233). An earlier report from the Minority Rights Group indicated that there were 55,000 registered Pentecostals and an estimated 500,000 additional adherents to the faith (1984, 24). Under the Communist regime, the Pentecostal Church was forcibly amalgamated with several other religious groups into one official Baptist-Evangelical Union (Rowe May 1989, 2; IRBDC 21 Jan. 1992; Minority Rights Group 1984, 20-21). Pentecostals who refused to register with the organization and/or maintained the unique aspects of their faith faced a number of difficulties, including harassment by state officials, fines, prison and exile (Hill 1989, 310-313; Minority Rights Group 1984, 21-22; Rowe May 1989, 4-9). Pentecostals have been among those imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service (IRBDC 21 Jan. 1992; Hill 1989, 316).
In addition, Pentecostals faced discrimination in employment, education and housing (The Atlanta Journal and Constitution 2 Jan. 1992; Country Reports 1988 1989, 1224; Rowe May 1989, 6-7; Gannett News Service 22 Dec. 1990). According to some reports, state authorities could take children away from their Baptist or Pentecostal parents (Gannett News Service 22 Dec. 1990; The Independent 23 Sept. 1990). The attached articles from Michael Rowe, Kent Hill and the Minority Rights Group provide additional details on the situation of Pentecostals in the Soviet era.
According to a source at the Institute for Religion and Democracy, Pentecostals in Ukraine do not currently face any difficulties with respect to practicing their faith (19 Apr. 1993). Further, the Pentecostals have been left out of the ongoing struggle between the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Churches over property rights (Ibid.).
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1992 states that religious organizations in Ukraine are required to register with local authorities and with the Council of Religious Affairs, but the report does not mention whether there are churches that still refuse to register (1993, 954). This report indicates that freedom of religion in Ukraine is generally respected but notes that "obstacles to complete religious freedom still exist at local levels..." (Ibid.).
General information on the freedom of religion in Ukraine is available on request; however, further information specific to Pentecostals is not currently available to the DIRB.
References
The Atlanta Journal and Constitution. 2 January 1991. Randi Rice. "Couple Readies Gateway for Soviets...." (NEXIS)
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1992. 1993. U.S. Department of State. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1988. 1989. U.S. Department of State. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office.
The Encyclopedia of Religion. 1987. Vol. 11. Mircea Eliade, ed. New York: MacMillan Publishing Company.
Gannett News Service. 22 December 1990. Christine Decker. "A Joyful Christmas for Oregon's Soviet Refugees." (NEXIS)
Hill, Kent. 1989. The Puzzle of the Soviet Church. Portland, Oregon: Multnomah Press.
Immigration and Refugee Board Documentation Centre (IRBDC), Ottawa. 21 January 1992. Response to Information Request UKR9898.
The Independent. 23 September 1990. Irina Ratushinskaya. "Who Killed the Faithful Father?" (NEXIS)
Institute on Religion and Democracy. 19 April 1993. Telephone Interview with Representative.
Minority Rights Group. January 1991. Soviet Minorities: A Minority Rights Group Update Pack. Jane Ellis. "Religious Minorities." London: Minority Rights Group.
_____. 1984. Jane Ellis. "Religious Minorities in the Soviet Union." London: Minority Rights Group.
Rowe, Michael. May 1989. "Soviet Pentecostals." Unpublished paper.
Attachments
Hill, Kent. 1989. The Puzzle of the Soviet Church. Portland, Oregon: Multnomah Press, pp. 292-296, 310-313, 316-318.
Minority Rights Group. 1984. Jane Ellis. "Religious Minorities in the Soviet Union." London: Minority Rights Group, pp. 20-22, 24.
Rowe, Michael. May 1989. "Soviet Pentecostals." Unpublished paper, pp. 1-12.
