Łukašenka tells American evangelist he admires Protestants

May 15, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka told American evangelist Franklin Graham that he was proud of the peaceful coexistence of some 25 religious denominations in Belarus.
The Belarusian leader stressed his positive attitude toward Protestants, according to his press office.
“During Soviet times, when I was a [Communist] party committee secretary, half of the staff at the farm where I worked were Protestants,” he recalled. “I was interested in how Protestants differ from Orthodox Christians or Catholics. I visited the homes of our Protestants. I must say they are very kind and hardworking people.”
According to the unofficial Telegram channel linked to Łukašenka’s press office, the Belarusian leader asked the visitor to convey his best wishes to US President Donald Trump.
“You understand, without the US president it would be more difficult for us to establish our relations,” he was quoted as saying.
According to a state media report, Łukašenka also noted that the United States accounted for two-thirds of the humanitarian aid received by Belarus last year despite sanctions.
Franklin Graham, head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, established in 1950, is scheduled to stay in Belarus from May 14 to 16. He is expected to take part in the Protestant Festival of Hope scheduled at Čyžoŭka Arena on May 16 and 17.
Some observers speculate that US envoy John Coale may also visit Minsk during this period.
The Belarusian government persecuted 93 Christian religious leaders between the fall of 2020 and April 28, 2026, including 37 representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, 31 representatives of evangelical churches, 20 representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church and five representatives of the Greek Catholic Church, according to the Chryscijanskaja Vizija religious rights group.
Belarus’ police arrest Catholic priest, evangelical pastor
- Economy, Politics, SocietyNearly 120,000 Belarusians worked in Poland last year, statisticians sayThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- PoliticsEU drafts new sanctions against Russia, BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsCichanoŭskaja’s visit does not mean Ukraine recognizes her as president, envoy saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- SocietyBelarus records spring 2026 at 1.5 C above normalThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka seeks Russian Supreme Court chief’s help on court technologyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics, SocietyOfficial: authorities foiled 100 terrorism and extremism financing cases in 2025The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsPolish businessman fined nearly €5 million for selling luxury cars to Russia via BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsIrregular Belarus-Latvia crossings exceed 500 in first week of JuneThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsOne in five political prisoners in high-risk category, Viasna saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsNobel laureate Bialacki registers foundation in PolandThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus opens criminal case against exiled rocker over her political stanceThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- SocietyBelarusian, Pole jailed in Poland for cigarette smugglingThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyNumber of Belarusian holders of Lithuanian residence permits falls below 49,000The material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyRussian businessman Mazepin set to build “small fertilizer plant” in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsŁukašenka offers Ghana equipment and trainingThe material is available only to POZIRK+



