Increasing Pressure from Authorities in Belarus

Background to Pastor Georgi’s work in Belarus

Pastor Georgi Viazovski studied at the London Reformed Baptist Seminary in London from 1992-94. Soon after his return to Minsk he planted a Russian-speaking church, Christ’s Covenant Baptist Church.

Later, he was also asked to minister to a Belarusian-speaking congregation; the two fellowships now meet together during the summer months.

For many years Georgi edited a magazine, In the Beginning, which included Russian translations of Sword & Trowel articles. This was circulated among the countries of the former Soviet Union before publishing and printing restrictions in Belarus forced it online.

In 2006 Christ’s Covenant Church was officially closed by a court and Pastor Georgi arrested and imprisoned for 10 days. His wife was stopped from working as a secondary school teacher because of her Christian faith.

Like other churches, they have faced restrictions on children’s outreach, street preaching and public evangelism. By the blessing of the Lord, they have seen visitors as a result of personal witness and the church’s online ministry.

Georgi’s congregation was finally registered by the authorities in 2025. However, despite repeated applications over a 20-year period, their building has never been registered as a place of worship.

Increasing pressure from authorities

Pastor Georgi reports that in the last couple of months things have become much more difficult in Belarus, as responsibility for control of churches has been moved from the district authorities to the President and his officials. This affects the whole country, but the biggest problems are being experienced in the capital, Minsk. His church has been told that if they continue to meet in their building, they could face deregistration, fines or administrative arrest.

It is thought that the government is seeking to put pressure on churches because many do not support the war in Ukraine. The view is that Roman Catholic churches are under particular scrutiny because they are led by the Roman Catholic church in Poland. Russian Orthodox churches are led by Moscow and are not such a concern to the President, while the Protestant churches are not led by Warsaw or Moscow but by Christ, and are therefore more difficult for the authorities to control.

Churches are being advised to apply to meet in official buildings. Some are receiving permission to meet for a month or two, and have to reapply after that time.

Pastor Georgi has told us of at least one registered religious building that has nevertheless been raided by the authorities. He writes: “Foreign students were detained [and] questioned, and reports were filed.”

Pastor Georgi’s church, with legal help, has applied for permission to meet in their own building. They have been told they will get an answer by 9^th September. In the meantime they have been holding online services from their building (which is not forbidden). They are also meeting in members’ homes.

At some risk, the whole congregation met for the Lord’s Supper in their own building on the first Sunday in August.

Pastor Georgi says that this new clampdown is reminiscent of the situation in the 1950s and 60s. It is unsettling, draining a lot of energy, and even taking a toll on his health. He asks for prayer.

Online ministries

The next issue of their online magazine is about to be published. Because of Russia’s ban on YouTube, they have lost a large number of online listeners and are now using other internet platforms to try to reach them.

Pastor Georgi comments that the audience’s reaction on these new platforms is astonishing, ranging from open hatred to sincere gratitude.

You can visit Pastor Georgi’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@reformedby (auto-generated English subtitles are available).

Likeminded churches

Pastor Georgi and some members of his fellowship recently visited Pastor Vladimir Gritzuk who pastors an independent Baptist church in Bereza (about 150 miles from Minsk, in the direction of Brest). Pastor Georgi has been training and helping Pastor Vladimir, to their mutual encouragement.

Historical context

Pastor Leonid German, from Ukraine, recently shared a striking catalogue of persecution of believers under the former Soviet Union from 1962-91. The catalogue (pictured below) reads:

According to the information we have (though not entirely complete), during 30 years of non-stop persecution:

More than 1500 of those faithful to God faced arrest;
1055 believers were convicted for long term imprisonment;
The combined term of imprisonment of those convicted was approximately 5000 years;
Among the convicted were 149 women, 9 of whom were convicted twice;
Altogether 127 people were convicted twice, men and women;
32 people were convicted three times for imprisonment;
16 people were convicted four times for imprisonment;
6 people were convicted five times;
2 people were convicted 6 times (HG Baturin, PB Rumachik);
96 people were over the age of 65 at the time of conviction;
26 people were over the age of 70 at the time of conviction;
2 people were over 80 at the time of conviction;
Convicted for a second term without release from the first term—8 believers: NG Baturin, MI Khorev, NE Boyko, YG Skornyakov, RD Klassen, PB Rumachik, AA Kolyashin, IG Shidych;
Those who were disabled, who were convicted and imprisoned also: NP Matyushina—did not have both legs; MI Belan (Tashkent)—paralysed; and others;
Deemed worthy to suffer a martyr’s death: more than 30 church ministers and zealous Christians;
Passed into glory during their imprisonment: 17 people.

This information was collected by the unregistered Baptist churches, and kept in their church records.

Our translator added: “The elderly Christians know all these names by heart.”

Prayer requests

Permission for Pastor Georgi’s church to meet in their own building.
A blessing on the online ministries of Christ’s Covenant Baptist Church.
A blessing on the ministry of Pastor Vladimir Gritzuk.
Success for all Gospel ministries in these trying times.