Belarus denies visa extension to Roman Catholic priest

Roman Catholic priest Grzegosz Chudek has left Belarus for his native Poland after serving 14 years in the Rechytsa parish in the Homel region, reports Belapan.  He had to leave because his application for visa extension was denied by the Belarusian authorities. The reaction of the local authorities could have been caused by priest's comments on social issues in Rechytsa on the pages of the Polish newspapers, unofficial sources suggest.

Up to 700 parishioners signed an appeal to Belarus President Alexander Lukashenka, asking him to allow the Polish priest to serve, but to no avail.