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Kazakhstan

  • Pastor Detained Despite Insufficient Evidence

    Bakhytzhan Kashkumbayev

    Pastor Bakhytzhan Kashkumbayev, who leads Grace Church in Astana, was arrested May 17th on criminal charges for allegedly "harming health" and has subsequently been detained. The "evidence" justifying his detention appears thin. Lyazzat Almenova, on whose health the authorities claim to be basing their case, has written to the Astana Prosecutor's Office to say she is psychiatrically healthy. "The authorities forcibly put me in a psychiatric ward," Lyazzat says, "in order to disregard my appeals and petitions in favour of Pastor Kashkumbayev...who is totally innocent and has not harmed my health at all."

    The arrest of the pastor was supposedly part of a continuing police investigation initiated by a July 2011 complaint from Lyazzat's mother, whose allegation church members have vehemently denied. As part of this action, two raids on Pastor Kashkumbayev's church and on the unrelated New Life Church in Oral (Uralsk) took place in October 2012. Numerous hostile media articles were also published, attacking the church for supposedly administering drugs (in reality, a non-alcoholic Communion drink) to its members. District prosecutor Alen Tlenchiyev argued that the accused has committed a serious crime because he "prayed for the sick and psychologically influenced" church members.

    On July 18th, Pastor Kashkumbayev stated in written complaints to national and international bodies, including the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee, that "though I am 67 and cannot boast of ideal health since I had a serious heart attack in 2011...I am psychologically healthy." He also expressed fear in his complaint: "In order to make me mad, they will inject me with special substances. It will not take much for the authorities to make me a 'vegetable'.... I am begging you to protect me."

    His son Askar and other members of Grace Church believe that one reason for the authorities' use of psychiatry could be "an attempt to humiliate him in public eyes, and damage the image of the church." Other reports of persecution can be found at the Kazakhstan Country Report.

    Our Heavenly Father assures His people in Romans 8:28 that "all things work together for good to those who love Him," including "things" such as the vicious attacks of the enemy. May the media exposure and accusations serve to heighten curiosity and bring about a greater awareness of God in the eyes of the general public. May those whose hearts are genuinely seeking truth discover it through this very situation. Also pray for the Lord's divine protection over this persecuted pastor and his congregation. Like Daniel, may Pastor Kashkumbayev be protected spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally, emerging from the fiery furnace of affliction totally unscathed and as a powerful witness of God's salvation and deliverance.
  • Update on Bakhytzhan Kashkumbaev

    Kazakhstan- The imprisonment of Kazakh pastor, Bakhytzhan Kashkumbaev, took place in May of this year. It is believed that his arrest was part of the Kazakh government's efforts to effectively restrict the freedom of churches in Kazakhstan and, in particular, penalize any Muslims who convert to Christianity. Pray that God will sustain Pastor Kashkumbaev during his detention and that all charges against him will be dropped.

  • Court Decision to Destroy Bibles Overturned

    Photo: Flickr / GeoWombats

    A previous court decision involving Baptist believer Vyacheslav Cherkasov, ordering that the Bibles confiscated from him be destroyed, has been overturned and the Bibles returned. Unfortunately, the fine remains as originally ordered. (Click here to read the previously reported prayer alert.) A journalist by the name of Sergei Duvanov believed it was possible for the book-burning decision to be overturned if greater awareness was made over the plight of the accused. Thankfully, due to the diligence of human rights defenders in Oslo who have given the case wide publicity, and the prayers of concerned Christians around the world, the outcome of the confiscated Bibles has been favourable.

    However, another situation serves as a reminder of our need to continue praying that the government in Kazakhstan will grant believers the freedom to gather together for times of worship and prayer. On April 4th, police raided a prayer service involving seven members of a small Baptist church in Ayagoz (East Kazakhstan Region) for holding unregistered religious services. Of the seven who were fined the equivalent of nearly two months' local average wages for a teacher were a couple of grandmothers in their late 70s.

    Pray that God will recompense these Christians for their financial loss, blessing them abundantly for their faithfulness to Him and His work. May He also touch the hearts of the political and judicial leaders, helping them to realize the importance of following the statutes of His Word in order to make positive progress and thrive as a nation.

    Important Note Concerning Previous Azerbaijan Alert: Since last week's Persecution & Prayer Alert, The Voice of the Martyrs ministry has received clarification from Forum 18 News that it was Hamid Shabanov's wife, Hinayat, who was fined. (Hamid was away in Russia at the time.)
  • Court Mandates the Destruction of Christian Literature

    Photo: s_falkow / Flickr

    A recent court decision orders that 121 books police confiscated from Vyacheslav Cherkasov, a Christian believer residing in the northern Akmola Region, are to be destroyed. On October 20, 2012, Vyacheslav was arrested for offering Christian literature to passersby while on a street in his town. It was reported by the court that the police officers who had arrested him were responding to an "anonymous call." While at the scene, they seized a suitcase containing the Christian literature from his parked car. The printed materials included Bibles, children's Bibles, and other books and leaflets on the Christian faith, primarily in the Kazakh language. As a result of the "offense," Vyacheslav received a fine based on the average monthly wage. On the condition he loses his appeal, court executors will carry out the previously ordered destruction.

    A justice ministry official in the capital of Astana explained that all the books, including the previously mentioned Bibles, will most likely be burned. The verdict, ordering the destruction of all the religious literature, distressed human rights defender Yevgeni Zhovtis of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and the Rule of Law. It seems that the country is using measures of censorship and the violations of freedom of religion or belief to further restrict and control society at large. To learn more about this Communist country, go to the Kazakhstan Country Report.

    In Luke 4:18, Jesus announced that He came to set the captives free. Let's stand on this promise as we intercede for those in Kazakhstan who are blinded from the truth of the Gospel and held in spiritual bondage, so they can truly experience the liberty and joy of His salvation. Also remember Vyacheslav whose sincere efforts to share the "Good News" with others have not gone unnoticed by God Himself. May the Lord recompense our Christian brother for his loss and abundantly reward him for his faithfulness.
  • Church accused of drugging congregants

    Two churches were raided in Kazakhstan earlier this month following unsubstantiated allegations that a congregant was drugged during communion. A source at the police department reportedly said, "Members of the religious association... were given hallucinogens to drink."

    Property and literature were confiscated from both churches, pastors were questioned, and one church's bank account was frozen. Officials even requested blood tests from believers at one church. Grace Church in Kazakhstan's capital Astana and New Life Church in Oral in West Kazakhstan Region were implicated in the case, which was launched more than 15 months ago after the alleged victim's mother made accusations her daughter was harmed. Church members at Grace Church denied any harm to member Lazzat Almenova. Lazzat said her sisters forced her into a psychiatric hospital for three months in 2011, while they sold some property that was owned jointly. Church members say Lazzat twice visited the Church after the raid, and that it is unclear why New Life Church, which is over 1,000 kilometres away, was implicated at all.

    The raids came just before the October 25 deadline for the re-registration of all religious communities across Kazakhstan under the highly restrictive amendments to the Religion Law, which came into force last year. The re-registration of these two churches will not be considered until their names are cleared.

    Please pray that these false allegations will be dropped and that Lazzat will remain strong in her faith. Please pray that both Grace Church and New Life Church will be re-registered. Pray that, whether registered or not, churches in Kazakhstan will remain faithful to the Lord.

    Go to the Kazakhstan Country Report for more information on Kazakhstan's suffering Church.
  • Update: Pastor acquitted after praying for the sick

    Pastor Yerzhan Ushanov, who was found guilty of "causing severe damage to health due to negligence" after he prayed for an ill church visitor, has been exonerated by Kazakhstan's Supreme Court.

    The pastor of a church in Taraz was originally charged by the National Security Committee secret police when it was claimed a visitor to the church suffered after the pastor prayed for him using hypnosis (for more on this story, please click here).

    Kazakhstan's Supreme Court acquitted the pastor in April, overturning last September's guilty verdict. The Court stated it reached its verdict "due to the absence of elements of crime in his actions."

    Praise God that Pastor Yerzhan has been vindicated and may now return to lead his church family. Pray that he will maintain the attitude of Christ, entrusting himself to God Who judges perfectly (1 Peter 5:1-4). Please pray that this case will act as a deterrent to officials who consider falsely accusing Christians in Kazakhstan.

    Go to the Kazakhstan Country Report for more information on Kazakhstan's suffering Church.
  • Church closures continue

    Kazakhstan continues to use land use regulations as a means to prevent religious communities and their members from exercising freedom of religion or belief. In Taldykorgan, Almaty Region, authorities used this tactic to force a church to "voluntarily" close down after the pastor's wife, Larissa Kim, was fined for using her private home -- the church's registered legal address -- for worship meetings. The church paid the fine and decided to liquidate itself to avoid further penalties. Pastor Kim noted that this incident will make any future activity by their congregation unlawful.

    Zhumagul Alimbekov, Head of Almaty Region's Agency of Religious Affairs Department, said that the church would have been closed down anyway unless they were able to secure 50 signatures required for re-registration. Pastor Kim said that the church is very small and they will not be able to collect the signatures required under the Religion Law for re-registration. Since the beginning of 2012, Kazakhstan has cancelled the registration of hundreds of small religious groups (those with fewer than 50 adult citizen members), so depriving them of the right to exist.

    Please pray the Lord will grow His church in Kazakhstan. Ask Him to give believers a bold and courageous faith, as well as the desire and the opportunity to continue meeting with one another. Pray for wisdom for Pastor Kim, Larissa Kim, and the congregation during this time.

    Go to the Kazakhstan Country Report for more information on Kazakhstan's suffering Church.
  • Harsh new punishment enforced

    Kazakhstan’s new Religion Law makes life difficult for believers.

    A shoe repairman and father of 10 in eastern Kazakhstan has been fined the equivalent of 18 months' average monthly salary. Aleksei Asetov was fined for leading the small congregation that meets in his home. The judge also banned the congregation.

    Aleksei is the fifth member of a religious community known to have been fined since the harsh new Religion Law and associated punishments were adopted (for more information on the new law, click here). However, he is the first to be tried under the new penalties.

    Please pray that Aleksei and his family will find joy in their sufferings (Romans 5:3). Pray that God will provide for all their needs. Please pray that God will intercede in Kazakhstan, softening the hearts of the political powers and causing them to cease their persecution of Christians.

    Go to the Kazakhstan Country Report to learn more about the trials believers face in Kazakhstan.
  • Update: New draft regulations outline official religious censorship

    Kazakhstan's Agency of Religious Affairs (ARA) has prepared -- but not yet adopted -- new regulations to implement the system of compulsory state censorship of almost all religious literature and objects. The regulations for "expert analyses" will also apply to religious organizations' statutes.

    Without such ARA approval, religious books cannot be imported (apart from small quantities) or distributed, and religious organizations will not be able to gain state registration. The draft regulations make no provisions for any challenges to ARA's censorship decisions.

    In addition to the censorship regulations, the ARA and various other state bodies are also preparing other regulations to implement October's harsh new Religion Law (for more information, click here). These include regulations on how religious communities must register or re-register, how local and foreign citizens wanting to engage in whatever state officials define as "missionary activities" must register, how and where places of worship are allowed to be built, where worship can take place outside registered places of worship, where religious books and materials are allowed to be sold, and what names religious communities are allowed to give to their places of worship.

    Pray that these new regulations will not be adopted. Pray that the Lord will give believers in Kazakhstan boldness and tenacity to proclaim the Gospel despite these new potential restrictions. Ask the Lord to provide opportunity and means to flood this nation with His Holy Word.

    To learn more about the trials Christians face in Kazakhstan, go to the Kazakhstan Country Report.
  • New laws oppress Christians

    The president of Kazakhstan has ushered in two new laws that severely restrict freedom of religion. President Nursultan Nazarbaev signed the laws -- which have been adopted with what one observer called "unprecedented" speed -- in mid-October. The laws have attracted fierce criticism from local religious groups, human rights defenders and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). "The Law on Religious Activity and Religious Associations" imposes a very complicated registration system for faith groups, bans unregistered religious activity, promotes censorship and requires government approval to build or open new places of worship. The other new law includes amendments that may also have a far-reaching impact on religious freedom.

    Pray for courage and wisdom for Christians and others who are raising a voice against these restrictive new laws. Please pray believers would be protected from legal persecution. Pray that President Nazarbaev's heart would be softened and that he would relent and repent (Acts 9).

    Go to the Kazakhstan Country Report to learn more about the trials believers face in Kazakhstan.

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