Belarus

Belarus has one of the most repressive regimes in Europe. Under the dictatorship of President Lukashenko, human rights are trampled and dissidents are jailed. The government continued to restrict religious freedom. Though the country officially has no state religion, the Belarusian Orthodox Church has a privileged position. Protestants (like Lutherans, Reformed, Evangelicals and Baptists) attracted negative attention, presumably for their perceived links with the United States. Numerous attacks on religious monuments, buildings, and cemeteries occurred with little discernable response from the government. Authorities kept many religious communities waiting as long as several years for decisions about property registration or restitution. Authorities also harassed and fined members of certain religious groups, especially those that the authorities appeared to regard as bearers of foreign cultural influence or as having a political agenda. Foreign missionaries, clergy, and humanitarian workers affiliated with churches faced many government-imposed obstacles, including deportation and visa refusal or cancellation. In 2007, the number of persecution incidents increased, resulting in a slightly higher score for the country on the list. More Christians were arrested and interrogated, more were harassed, and more church meetings were disrupted.