Subject: 2 Baptist Pastors Arrested in Turkmenistan
From: Felix Corley (fcorley@mail.ndirect.co.uk)
Date: Mon Dec 20 1999 - 17:35:28 EST
FLASH NEWS from COMPASS DIRECT
Global News from the Frontlines
TWO BAPTIST PASTORS ARRESTED BY SECRET POLICE IN TURKMENISTAN
Crackdown on Unregistered Minority Communities Continues
by Felix Corley
LONDON, December 17 (Compass) -- Amid the continuing crackdown on
unregistered Christian churches in the Central Asian state of
Turkmenistan, the secret police have raided four Baptist
congregations and arrested two senior Baptist leaders. The two --
Vladimir Chernov and Anatoly Belyayev -- are pastors of the Ashgabad
congregation of the Council of Churches of Evangelical
Christian/Baptists in the Turkmen capital.
According to information from Baptist sources in the country reaching
the U.S.-based Russian Evangelistic Ministries, the two pastors,
together with Chernov's wife Olga, were seized in what appears to be
a concerted campaign to stamp out their church. The location of the
three is unknown.
Fifteen agents of the National Security Committee, the KNB (formerly
the KGB) raided the Baptist church in Ashgabad on December 16 at 11
p.m. The facilities were guarded by a 17-year-old local believer,
Dmitry Milnichenko. After breaking down the door of the sanctuary,
the KNB agents reportedly assaulted Milnichenko while others searched
the premises, turning everything upside down.
When they had completed their search and realized that Milnichenko
was the only person there, the KNB agents took him to their
headquarters for interrogation, during which he was reportedly beaten
and threatened. The KNB warned him that when he reaches the age of 18
and has to perform compulsory military service, he would be "repaid
for his faith in Jesus."
The KNB reportedly tried to induce Milnichenko to collaborate, but he
declined. He was released at 6:30 p.m. today, exhausted and suffering
from the beatings.
Belyayev was also arrested before dawn this morning. The four men
that came to his house refused to show any identification papers.
Forcing their way in, they said, "You are under arrest!" The
minister's wife responded, "Have we returned to the Stalin era? What
is going on?" The men replied only that as soon as Chernov was in
custody, Belyayev would be freed. Although legally registered in
Marakh, Belyayev ministers in the Ashgabad congregation.
The KNB finally tracked down Chernov and his wife Olga late today
while they were traveling by train to visit Baptists in the Caspian
port town of Turkmenbashi. They were taken off the train by police
and handed over to the KNB.
Also during the night of December 16-17, KNB officers raided other
Baptist churches, including congregations in Turkmenabad (formerly
Chardjou), Mary and Turkmenbashi, the church that the Chernovs were
due to visit. An unknown number of Baptists had their identity
documents confiscated.
The congregations of the Council of Churches of Evangelical
Christian/Baptists have suffered relentless persecution over the past
years in Turkmenistan as the government has stepped up its campaign
to crush unregistered religious activity. Facing similar harassment,
which includes fines, interrogations, beatings, detention and
expulsion from the country, have been other Baptist communities not
affiliated with the Council of Churches. Adventists and other
Protestants, as well as non-Christian groups such as the Jehovah's
Witnesses and Hare Krishna devotees have also been harassed.
Ironically, sources in Turkmenistan reported that just a few days
before the raids and his own arrest, Pastor Chernov had been sharing
with fellow Baptists his joy at the apparent relaxation of the
persecution of believers after a spate of raids in November and the
first week of December.
Copyright 1999 Compass Direct
Compass Direct Flash News is distributed as available to raise
awareness of Christians worldwide who are persecuted for their faith.
Articles may be reprinted by active subscribers only.
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Compass Direct
P.O. Box 27250
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USA
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FAX: 949-752-6536
E-mail: compassdr@compuserve.com
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