{"id":188288,"date":"2026-05-20T18:32:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T15:32:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/188288\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T18:32:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T15:32:56","slug":"belarus-to-expel-five-catholic-priests-one-monk-report","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/188288\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarus to expel five Catholic priests, one monk \u2013 report"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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May 20, Pozirk. <\/em><\/strong>Belarusian authorities refused to extend permits for five Catholic priests and one monk of the Minsk\u2013Mahilo\u016d Archdiocese, all Polish citizens, to continue their ministry in Belarus, Chry\u015bcijanskaja Vizija reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of them had served in the Minsk region and resided in Belarus for a long time. One of them, Lech Bachanek from the Ivianiec parish, faced a similar problem in 2016, yet his permit to serve was eventually renewed following public outcry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier, Belarusian authorities had also refused to allow three Polish Catholic priests in the Vitebsk Diocese to continue their ministry, as well as two priests in the Pinsk Diocese, according to the initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many believers and clergy in Belarus have faced politically-motivated persecution after speaking out during the 2020 political crisis that followed the disputed presidential election and the subsequent crackdown on postelection protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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