Bank account of New Life Church arrested

The authorities arrested the "Belinvestbank" bank account of the Minsk Protestant Church "New Life". The lawyer of the Church Siarhej Lukanin informed the European Radio for Belarus, that since today the money transferred to the Church's bank account will be directed to the Economic Court of Minsk.
Lukanin: "There was 935 thousand roubles at that account - donations of the believers. Unfortunately the money was transferred to the state budget for no reason - we consider the decisions of the court regarding our alleged pollution of the environment with oil, illegal. Definitely, it was not like that".

To the lawyer's opinion, the authorities are not likely to make the situation worse and occupy the building. Nevertheless, the believers are ready to defend their property.

Lukanin: "All we can do is pray, be in our building. In case there are some active measures from the side of the authorities, they know what we are going to do! We will try to get together in our building as soon as possible - together with our wives and children, to pray in order to prevent violence and occupation of our building".

Let us remind you that the Economic Court of Minsk fined the church "New Life" for nearly 260 million roubles for pollution of the community's territory with oil products. Believers consider these court decisions illegal and decided to refuse from paying the fine, on August 8. Their pastor Viachaslau Hancharenka could face up to 5 years of imprisonment for that.