Jack Bethel

Religious Freedom Correspondent

Articles by Jack Bethel

4 Mar, 2025 10:58 EST

Europe Religious Freedom

Imprisoned Ukrainian priest transferred to labor camp in Russia

By Jack Bethel

An imprisoned Ukrainian Orthodox Church priest has been sent 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) from his parish in Russian-occupied Ukraine to a hard labor camp in Russia to serve his 14-year sentence on false espionage charges, according to rights group Forum 18.
25 Nov, 2024 12:24 EST

Europe Religious Freedom

Moscow pastor arrested for opposing invasion of Ukraine

By Jack Bethel

A pastor in Russia could face six years in jail or a fine of 1 million rubles ($9,583USD) for preaching “on the basis of Holy Scripture” that the invasion of Ukraine was wrong and Christians should not fight in it, a religious rights outlet reported.
24 Oct, 2024 11:29 EDT

Europe Religious Freedom

Russia hands Ukrainian priest suspended sentence

By Jack Bethel

Russian officials have released a Ukrainian Orthodox priest jailed for 107 days following his conviction on drug charges and a suspended sentence that includes restrictions and monitoring.
12 Aug, 2024 12:16 EDT

Europe Religious Freedom

Russian preacher could face prison for opposition to war

By Jack Bethel

A Russian preacher who helps the homeless could face years in prison and has been fined by authorities in his home country for opposing the invasion of Ukraine.
8 Aug, 2024 11:26 EDT

Asia Religious Freedom

Turkmenistan authorities threaten pastor, pressure relatives

By Jack Bethel

Authorities in Turkmenistan have threatened a church pastor with prison and pressured his non-Christian relatives to urge him to stop practicing his faith, according to rights group Forum 18.
7 Aug, 2024 12:22 EDT

Europe Religious Freedom

Ukrainian priest sentenced to Russian labor camp for ‘espionage’

By Jack Bethel

The Russian-controlled Crimean Supreme Court on Thursday (Aug. 2) sentenced a Ukrainian Orthodox priest to 14 years in a harsh labor camp for conviction on false espionage charges.
25 Jul, 2024 13:27 EDT

Europe Religious Freedom

Russia begins demolishing of church building in occupied Crimea

By Jack Bethel

Russian occupation forces began dismantling a worship building of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) in the Crimean city of Yevpatoria on Sunday (July 21), according to published reports.
19 Jul, 2024 12:26 EDT

Europe Asia Religious Freedom

Azerbaijan destroys Christian sites, heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh

By Jack Bethel

Azerbaijan is guilty of “cultural genocide” for destroying Christian sites in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and falsely claiming that Armenian religious presence there never existed, according to a report by a legal advocacy group.
8 Jul, 2024 11:54 EDT

Europe Religious Freedom

Protestant sentenced to prison in occupied Ukraine; arrested priest disappears

By Jack Bethel

A Ukrainian Protestant in her early 50s has received a seven-year jail term for remarks at a home prayer meeting in a Russian-occupied city, while a Ukrainian Orthodox Church priest has disappeared following his arrest, according to Forum 18.
24 Jun, 2024 11:19 EDT

Europe Religious Freedom

‘Terror attacks’ kill Russian Orthodox priest, others in Dagestan

By Jack Bethel

Three days of mourning have begun in Russia’s predominantly Muslim Republic of Dagestan after a spate of terror attacks on Sunday (June 23) left a Russian Orthodox priest, three other civilians and at least 15 police officers dead, Russian officials said.
18 Jun, 2024 12:33 EDT

Europe Religious Freedom

‘Foreign agents law’ in Georgia takes aim at churches

By Jack Bethel

The Georgia government has enacted a law that aims to persecute churches, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and independent media, according to a renowned law professor.
4 Jun, 2024 11:28 EDT

Europe Asia Religious Freedom

Authorities in Russia tell archbishop to demolish church building

By Jack Bethel

Russian authorities want an elderly archbishop to pay for the demolition of his own church building for “repeated crimes” after he criticized the invasion of Ukraine.

Jack Bethel

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