Forum 18 News Service

Hjem
Norge
Oslo
Forum 18 News Service

Monitoring freedom of belief violations Central Asia, Russia, S. Caucasus, Belarus, Occupied Ukraine

26/05/2026

ARMENIA: Molokan conscientious objector Ivan Mikhailov's 2nd criminal trial repeatedly delayed; Baptist Davit Nazaretyan due for release in August at end of 2-year jail term, case now in Strasbourg court; both refused alternative civilian service

Molokan conscientious objector Ivan Mikhailov, refused alternative civilian service in 2018, is on criminal trial for the second time. His original 2-year jail term was eventually overturned. His current case reached court in July 2025 but hearings have been repeatedly postponed. He remains under tr...

26/05/2026

KAZAKHSTAN: On 22 April, Almaty Court extended pre-trial detention of 40yo independent, anti-war Orthodox priest Yakov Vorontsov until 23 May

On 22 April, an Almaty court extended until 23 May pre-trial detention of 40-year-old independent Orthodox priest Yakov Vorontsov. Arrested on 13 February, he faces criminal charges which he and his supporters reject. "Relatives can't visit Fr Yakov," says lawyer Galym Nurpeisov. "This is the Invest...

04/05/2026

BELARUS: Latest enforced departures of foreign clergy: senior state religious official rejects Vitebsk Catholic diocese request for 3 priests to continue service - one has served in Belarus since 1990

Plenipotentiary for Religious and Ethnic Affairs Aleksandr Rumak denied permission to Vitebsk Catholic Diocese for three Polish Catholic priests to continue service. Fr Zenon Szcząchor has been serving in Belarus since 1990. Rumak unilaterally decides without giving reasons whether registered relig...

29/04/2026

RUSSIA: At end of re-trial, Moscow court jails Buddhist leader Ilya Vasilyev for 6 years for anti-war social media post written "solely out of religious conviction"

A Moscow court jailed Buddhist leader Ilya Vasilyev for 6 years and banned him from "administering websites". In custody since June 2024, the 52-year-old was convicted in a re-trial for an anti-war social media post. "Some people want to pressure Buddhists to fight on the side of one leader or anoth...

27/04/2026

RUSSIA: Serbian court convicted 3 Serbs for desecrating 3 Paris synagogues + 9 mosques in 2025 in attacks organised + financed by "structures of the intelligence service of the Russian Federation"

A Serbian court convicted three Serbian nationals in December 2025 of participating in attacks to desecrate 3 Paris synagogues in May 2025 and 9 Paris area mosques in September 2025. "Every time an event like this happens, worshippers wonder if they really are safe when they come to pray," a mosque....

23/04/2026

RUSSIA: A Moscow court jailed in absentia exiled Orthodox journalist for 8 yrs for online post condemning Russian missile strike on Ukrainian children's hospital - return to Russia would see her jailed

On 24 March, a Moscow court handed exiled Orthodox journalist Kseniya Luchenko an 8-year jail term in absentia for an online post condemning a Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian children's hospital. She has lodged an appeal. If she returns to Russia, or visits countries with extradition agreement...

17/04/2026

KAZAKHSTAN: Guldaria Sherizat due to begin 5-yr jail term in 2027 after youngest daughter turns 18. She was among 19 convicted for protest against Chinese government actions in Xinjiang. Her husband is jailed there for protesting against jailing of his nephew there for praying

When Guldaria Sherizat's youngest daughter turns 18 in 2027, her 5-year jail term is set to begin. She was among 19 Kazakhs originally from China's Xinjiang Province convicted in Taldykorgan on 13 April for "inciting discord" against Chinese people for a November 2025 demonstration. Sherizat was pro...

14/04/2026

BELARUS: Exercise of freedom of religion by all 3 Greek Catholic parishes in Brest Region now illegal after Supreme Court rejects appeal against enforced liquidation of Brest parish

Brest Regional Court ended the legal existence of all three previously-registered Greek Catholic parishes in Brest Region. On 9 April, the Supreme Court in Minsk rejected the appeal by the Parish of the Brother Apostles Saints Peter and Andrew in the city of Brest against its enforced liquidation. S...

10/04/2026

BELARUS: Officials have not told parishoners of 65yo Catholic priest Anatol Parakhnevich why masked security officers - possibly from KGB - arrested him on 16 March + where he is being held

Masked security officers arrested 65-year-old Catholic priest Anatol Parakhnevich in Alkovichi, Minsk Region on 16 March. They have held him since, including over Easter, possibly in Minsk's KGB Investigation Prison. "We know he was detained .. but we don't know where he is being held or what any ac...

31/03/2026

KYRGYZSTAN: 66yo Pastor Pavel Shreider of now-banned True and Free Reform Seventh-day Adventist Church awaits deportation after Supreme Court changed remaining prison term to fine

66-year-old Pastor Pavel Shreider of the now-banned True and Free Reform Seventh-day Adventist Church is awaiting deportation at his own expense. He was freed from prison on 25 March after the Supreme Court changed his jail term to a fine of 3 months' average wage. Officials have seized his passport...

24/03/2026

OCCUPIED UKRAINE: 30 years leading Krasnodon's Council of Churches Baptist congregation, fined many times, now ordered out of Russian-controlled territory within 2 weeks

On 21 March, Russia's occupation authorities in Ukraine ordered Baptist pastor Vladimir Rytikov to leave what they regard as Russian territory within two weeks. "I was born here and have lived here for [nearly] 67 years, now I'm being driven out," he noted. Officials have repeatedly raided the Counc...

Adresse

Oslo

Nettsted

https://www.forum18.org/

Varslinger

Vær den første som vet og la oss sende deg en e-post når Forum 18 News Service legger inn nyheter og kampanjer. Din e-postadresse vil ikke bli brukt til noe annet formål, og du kan når som helst melde deg av.

Snarveier

Vil du plassere din organisasjon på toppen av Frivillig Organisasjon-listen i Oslo?

Del

Type

Ideell organisasjon