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Turkmenistan

  • Update: Family concerned for health of imprisoned pastor


    Pastor Nurliev
    Photo from ASSIST News Service
    Pastor Nurliev (45), who leads Light to the World Church in Mary, Turkmenistan, was arrested on August 27 on charges of large-scale swindling, which carry a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment and confiscation of property (click here for more information). His wife, Maya, and other church members continue to insist the allegations are false and that police pressured three people into writing fabricated statements against him. "He is innocent of the accusations against him and I want him back home. All this is being done because of his faith," Maya said. She has been denied access to her husband since his arrest. The last she heard was that he was being held in a small, overcrowded and smoky cell. She is seriously concerned for his health in these conditions, as he suffers from diabetes which could worsen if he does not receive his regular medical treatment. (Source: Forum18)

    Pray for strength of health for Pastor Nurliev. Pray that he will be released. Pray that Maya and her family will trust in God's provision and care in this difficult time.

    For more on Christians suffering for their faith in Turkmenistan, go to theTurkmenistan Country Report.
  • Pastor faces criminal charges

    Pentecostal pastor Ilmurad Nurliev, who was arrested at his home in Mary in south-eastern Turkmenistan on August 27, faces criminal charges of large-scale swindling that carry a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment and confiscation of property. Three women who had attended church meetings wrote statements that he took money from them. His wife and other church members vigorously deny these charges, saying police pressured the three to write the statements and that they now regret doing so. Another church member has been threatened that if she does not testify against Pastor Nurliev, her husband, who is not a church member, will be fired from his job. (Source: Forum18)

    Please pray that the truth of this case may come to light. Ask the Lord to comfort and sustain Pastor Nurliev and his wife Maya. Please pray for wisdom and guidance for all of those who are involved in the case. Pray the church will be strengthened in Turkmenistan amidst the hostilities.

    For more information on persecution in Turkmenistan, go to theTurkmenistan Country Report.
  • Formerly imprisoned Christian under fire

    Authorities have threatened to seize the property of a formerly imprisoned Christian man unless he pays a large sum of money they claim he acquired illegally in 1995, according to a May 11 report from Forum18.

    Shageldy Atakov was imprisoned in 1999 on charges of swindling another individual out of $12,000 US during a car deal. Atakov and other local Christians maintain that the charges were fabricated in order to stop his Christian activity. While in detention at the Seydi Labour Camp, Atakov suffered repeated beatings, medical neglect, poor diet and torture with psychotropic (mind-altering) drugs for refusing to abandon his faith. In January 2002 he was released. He served the full prison sentence, thus he is already cleared of the alleged debt now being demanded by authorities.

    On April 29, a local official visited the home that Atakov shares with his wife and their nine children in order to assess the value of their property and examine ownership documents.

    Pray that all false allegations against Atakov will cease. Pray for strength and protection for Atakov and his family. Pray that Christians facing trials in Turkmenistan will remember that they will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which they are suffering (2 Thessalonians 1:5).

    Learn more about the persecution of Christians in Turkmenistan.
  • Pastor Ordered to Leave Turkmenistan

    Pastor Vyacheslav Kalataevsky Forum 18 is reporting that Baptist pastor Vyacheslav Kalataevsky who was freed from detention in early November after eight months in prison (click herefor more) has been denied permission to remain in his native town of Turkmenbashi. According to a December 4 report, Kalataevsky's application for a visa to remain with his wife and family has been rejected by the Migration Service and he will have to leave the country. Kalataevsky is a Ukrainian citizen but was born in Turkmenbashi. His parents and brother also live there.

    He is due to leave on a flight to Moscow on December 11. Officials have refused to explain the reason for denying the visa. "But of course it is linked to my activity as a believer," he told Forum 18. "Everything that has happened to me since 2001 is related to that." His small independent Baptist congregation has no other pastor.

    Pray for the Kalataevsky family during this difficult time. Pray for the church in Turkmenbashi as they will be without their pastor. Pray that some way may be found to allow Pastor Vyacheslav to return to his family and congregation.

    For more information on this case and the persecution facing Christians in Turkmenistan, go to the Turkmenistan Country Report.
  • Pastor Ordered to Not Meet With Other Believers

    Pastor Vyacheslav Kalataevsky Within days of being released from prison (click here to read more), Baptist pastor Vyacheslav Kalataevsky and his wife were summoned by officials for a "conversation." According to a November 21 report from Forum18, Kalataevsky was presented with a pre-written statement to sign saying that he would not meet with other believers. He refused to sign the statement. At the end of the meeting, the imam present promised Kalataevsky an "unpleasant fate" if he continued his religious activities.

    Pray for a continued steadfast faith and hope for Kalataevsky and his wife in the midst of opposition they face.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Turkmenistan, go toTurkmenistan Country Report.
  • Turkmen Pastor Freed

    Turkmenistan mapIn October, the Persecution & Prayer Alert reported that Pastor Vyacheslav Kalataevsky (49) had been amnestied after being sentenced to three years in a labour camp (click here for more details). A month after the amnesty, Pastor Kalataevsky was finally freed on November 6. Kalataevsky's wife, Valentina, was forced to sign a statement that Vyacheslav would not "violate the law," but there were no other restrictions put on him.

    Pastor Kalataevsky had been sentenced to three years in May 2007 for "illegally crossing the border" in 2001.

    Praise God for his release. Pray that God will grant him wisdom, as he looks toward the future. Pray for a continued boldness to minister to the people of Turkmenistan.

     For more information on the persecution of Christians in Turkmenistan, go to the Turkmenistan Country Report.
  • Pastor Vyacheslav Kalataevsky Amnestied

    Pastor Vyacheslav Kalataevsky (49), who was given a three-year labour camp sentence in May for "illegally" crossing the border in 2001 (click here for more details), has been amnestied, according to an October 9 report from Forum 18. Kalataevsky was transferred from a labour camp to a police holding cell in the city of Arzuv on October 8. He is to remain in police custody while the authorities decide whether to deport him. His family, however, is hoping that he will be allowed to stay with them until the decision has been made. The conditions at the detention centre are reported to be abysmal. The Ukrainian embassy has appealed to the Turkmen authorities on Kalataevsky's behalf, requesting that he be released and allowed to remain with his family in Turkmenistan.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Turkmenistan, go to the Turkmenistan Country Report.
  • Pastor Yevgeni Potolov Deported

    Turkmenistan mapPastor Yevgeni Potolov (36), who was arrested and detained for his religious activity in the city of Turkmenbashi on May 19
    (click here to read more), was deported to Russia on July 7, according to a July 18 report from Forum 18. Potolov, a Russian citizen, was declared "a dangerous person" by the Ministry of State Security secret police in a document they submitted to the Migration Service during his detention. The official reason for his deportation has not been made public. His wife and children remain in Turkmenbashi.

    For more information on persecution of Christians in Turkmenistan, go to theTurkmenistan Country Report.
  • Another Christian Leader Arrested in Turkmenbashi

    Yevgeny Potolov (36), who leads a Council of Churches Baptist congregation in the city of Turkmenbashi, was detained on May 19, according to a May 22 report from Forum 18. Police have refused to tell his wife why he is being held and said that his case is being handled by the Ministry of State Security secret police. He is currently being held at a local detention center.

    Potolov's arrest comes just five days after Christian leader Vyacheslav Kalataevsky was sentenced to three years in a labour camp for his religious activities (click here for more details). Potolov and Kalataevsky both had their local residence permits stripped from them in June 2001 in punishment for their religious activities with an unregistered Baptist congregation.

    Pray that Yevgeny will be released. Pray that Christians facing charges and harassment from authorities in Turkmenistan will continue to trust in the Lord (Revelation 2:10).

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Turkmenistan,click here.
  • Christian Sentenced to Three Years in Labour Camp Turkmenbashi MapOn May 14, a Christian man, Vyacheslav Kalataevsky, was given a three-year labour camp sentence in Turkmenbashi for "illegally" crossing the border in 2001 after being deported for organizing prayer meetings for local Christians, according to a May 14 report from Forum 18. According to Kalataevsky's family, the Ministry of State Security (MSS) secret police brought the case against him in order to punish him for his religious activities. After his March arrest, he was not questioned about crossing the border but asked mostly about his religious activities. He was also repeatedly questioned about his congregation during the trial.

    Kalataevsky was sentenced under Article 214 of the Criminal Code, which stipulates a maximum of two years in prison for first time offenders, so it is not known how he received a three-year sentence.

    Ask God to protect Vyacheslav in prison. Pray his passion for Christ will be the light that draws others to Him (Matthew 5:14-16).

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Turkmenistan,click here.

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