Belarus expels three Ukrainian evangelical activists
Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
Publication Date | 6 April 2017 |
Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Belarus expels three Ukrainian evangelical activists, 6 April 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5975a7164.html [accessed 4 November 2019] |
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. |
April 06, 2017
MINSK – Three Ukrainian Evangelical Christian activists who served 15 days in a Belarusian jail are being deported to Ukraine.
Ukrainian Consul in Minsk Oleksandr Novosyolov told RFE/RL that Ukrainian nationals Vladyslav Yermolov, Leonid Nemerchuk, and Ashot Sarkisian were released from custody on April 6 and were set to be expelled the same day.
They were detained in Minsk on March 22 and sentenced to 15 days in jail after a court convicted them of swearing in public.
The lawyer of a Protestant Christian group in Minsk, Syarhey Lukanin, said the conviction was obtained on the strength of false testimony.
The three were detained on the same day that they had planned to conduct public Bible studies in Minsk.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website