Authoritarian Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka has signed a law tightening the activities of religious organizations by forcing re-registration and restricting associations to older groups with nationwide presences, his office said January 3. The legislation requires compliance within a year and sets guidelines for religious organizations' activities to help addicts and provide social services for the elderly and disabled. The final text has not been published, but the draft version barred those deemed to have participated in extremist activities from leading religious groups. Lukashenka has clamped down on dissent since protests after a 2020 presidential election the opposition said was fraudulent. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Belarus Service, click here.
Lukashenka Signs Law Putting New Curbs On Religious Groupings In Belarus
Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka (file photo)