In Belarus the relations between churches and the state are not determined by any isolated step but follow from a quite clear logic of the existent political regime. It is this regime that has given birth to a new wording of the Liberty of Conscience and Religious Organizations Law 2002 and, on the whole, created a conception of the state’s religious policy. It seems to me, first of all, we need to catch the meaning of this logic so that then we might be able to understand the meaning of each separate step of the state. Here two components must be observed, the standing of civil society in Belarus, generally, and religious organizations as specific institutions.

In 2001 after the presidential elections Belarusian political regime stabilized and strengthened. Moreover, the regime’s quality changed. Thus, at presidential elections 1994 the first president’s personality itself was decisive, i.e. what is defined by incorrect concept of charisma in literature of political science; whereas in 2001 it became clear that charisma alone would not work and Lukashenko managed to secure his victory thanks to so called administrative resource only. However, after 2001 even this administrative resource was not sufficient and the authorities required an ideology of Belarusian statehood as a new mechanism.

As to administrative resource, in the public sector it became apparent through tightening control of religious, public, youth and other kinds of activities. From now on the state registration existed not only to control public activities but also to authorize them; so to say, everything which was not allowed was forbidden. Any activities of an unregistered organization were a cause of persecution, including criminal prosecution of its leader and members. Any unauthorized activities of a registered organization were a cause to deprivation of its registration.

There is a widespread opinion that such measures in religious sphere are taken to ensure the interests of certain religious organization, mainly, Belarusian Orthodox Church (BOC) or Roman Catholic Church in Belarus (RCCB) by limiting their rivals in the religious field. Sometimes these organizations hold to this erroneous opinion too. However, the regime ensures its own interests and defends itself against aforementioned churches too. At the same time, the regime is seeking to use them in ensuring its ideological policy, BOC being a particular supporter of it. In that case, all steps of cooperation – you are allowed to do what we need – are a work for regime’s good. In such a context one can consider everything, from restoration of the shrine of St. Euphrosyne of Polatsk to youth rallies dedicated to the beginning of Great Patriotic War 1941-1945 against Nazi Germany. It is terrible to think what the teaching of the Principles of Orthodox Culture could be turned into in our super-ideological educational system as far as it contains a course of Belarusian statehood’s ideology, religion science is still called a history of religion and free-thinking, the number of Belarusian-language schools is sharply decreasing, and during the second presidential term Belarusian Humanitarian Lyceum and European Humanitarian University were closed. Having taken a look at the cooperation program with the Ministry of Education one can notice how often the word cemetery is used. Orthodoxy is good as long as it remains the religion of a cemetery as in a variation of graves of the unknown soldier. For instance, when father comes in the entrance of a many-storeyed house to give someone the Eucharist, neighbours might ask if anyone died here. Another example is selling of a dress for burial at Orthodox exhibitions. Being a religion of life the Orthodoxy is slowly but inevitably turning into religion of death or some ritual and funereal cult. And political regime is quite satisfied with such cemetery-like though not dead Orthodoxy.

Moreover, the regime is raising fear and hence makes leaders of religious organizations appear for their flock in the role of something like Religious Affairs Committee. The same principle of everything which is not allowed is forbidden remains in force here. Surely, leaders of religious organizations, particularly such big as BOC and RCCB, are not even interested in so called Orthodox or Catholic community; after all any action, any unauthorized word can create troubles for these even leaders. So, it is impossible to set up any Orthodox public organization without the sanction of the Metropolitan Filaret. On the other hand, RCCB disowns particular youth initiatives like Union of Young Catholics. Of course, all this is trickily explained by a beautiful and always timely concept of obedience. And when in April this year KGB made raid on a fellowship from Gomel top officials of BOC chose to remain silent as if those persecuted were not Orthodox people. Moreover, it is quite reasonable to assume that Gomel eparchy was involved in KGB’s visit because Gomel fellowship belonged to a controversial Kochetkovtsy movement. In this case interests of the state and the church coincided.

It seems to me, not without reason we could observe several events that took place simultaneously: announcement of possible concordat between the Republic of Belarus and Roman Catholic Church and assignment of archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusewicz to Belarus; declaration of US State Department about religious liberty in Belarus and meeting with religious leaders where among others Vyacheslav Goncharenko, a bishop of charismatic churches and a pastor of famous church New Life, was invited in order to repulse this report. So, one day they invite Full Gospel Christians as religious leaders, although the case of church New Life is still unsettled, and another day they will show once again on central TV a film saying how terrible and dangerous these Charismatic Christians for religious safety of the country are. In my opinion, at the same time, they are seeking to reduce tension with Roman Catholics that rose in connection with the church of St. Joseph, last year’s arrest of priest Anthony (Kaczko), and refusal to give Belarusian visa to many priests and nuns.

However, the tension in the country including religious sphere is not easing but growing. Students of the European Humanitarian University in Vilnius are called to KGB in a great number, day by day the trials of unauthorized organizations’ members are going on, protestant pastors are expelled, and opposition activists are places into psychiatric hospitals. They claim to take under control even Internet. The authorities are taking away the liberty of conscience and makes others compromise with this very conscience. However, this is not the most terrible thing. A truly terrible is that often churches are on one side with authorities at this field.