Appeals help Baptists in Tiraspol

Baptists in Transdniestria say that local authorities give preference to Orthodox churches, like the one shown here

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - After Baptists in Transdniestria refused to apply for state registration as a religious congregation, the unrecognized country's Presidential administration backed down and is now allowing believers to hold public services anyway. The move came after supporters lodged so many appeals that the presidential office got swamped.

Initial pressure started after Council of Churches Baptists made it clear to the PMR government administration that they refused to apply for state registration on principle and on religious grounds. Baptists believe that no government permit should be needed in order to meet and worship God as part of a group.

As an unregistered church, Tiraspol police originally attempted to prevent the group from holding public services. The first attempt to enforce the law came on 26 March 2008 when law enforcement officers attempted to stop an evangelistic service with a visiting choir from Germany at the Baptist church in the city.

" - An hour before the event started some 20 police officers blocked the road providing access to the prayer house," Baptists reported, according to the Forum 18 News Service. "They insisted that the guests went away and that all those already gathered should disperse."

Refusal to pay $4 fine

Three church members – Pavel Timoshchuk, Peter Gruzevich and Vladimir Baron – were detained for questioning, as a result of which administrative cases were drawn up against the three. However, on 1 April 2008, only Timoshchuk and Gruzevich were summoned.

At the 1 April hearing, one of the two - Gruzevich - was found not guilty. Co-defendant Timoshchuk was fined 30 Trandniestrian Roubles (approx 4 US Dollars).

" - This is only the cost of half a kilo of meat – it is symbolic," one Baptist said.

On principle, Timoschuk nevertheless refused to pay the symbolic fine and instead argued that it is not a crime to meet for worship without registration. Timoshchuk works as an electrician at the Central State Library in Tiraspol, which is a state job, and the court subsequently ruled that the sum should be deducted from his wages.

In response, Baptists stepped up an organized campaign of protest against what they considered harassment. After protests and appeals continued to arrive at the office of Transdniestrian President Igor Smirnov, an official from the President's Office summoned three church leaders.

" - The official told them that the church could continue to meet and that they didn't have the power to ban them," the Baptist said. "He added that they had received so many appeals and asked them to help stop them."

Baptists are now able to meet freely, with no need to register and no law enforcement interference. (With information from Forum 18)

See also:
» Religious congregations report border confiscations, arbitrary abuse
» PMR's Supreme Court sides with Jehovah's Witnesses against gov't
» In Pridnestrovie, five times more religions than Moldova