Letter of gratitude from Pastor Bakhytzhan Kashkumbaev

Peace to you, my family, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ! I bow low to Jesus in your hearts!

I extol the glory of God and express my deep gratitude to Him for your prayers for me, for your financial assistance, for all the ways you supported me. While in prison, there was not a moment that I did not feel the shelter, mercy and protection of our Lord, Who was always with me and Who made powerful use of me in my imprisonment.

You were given by God, my dear ones, in my prayers of gratitude to God for you I ask you to forgive me that I do not call you each by name, for you are many—an entire world—and it is impossible to list each of you by name, but our loving Lord knows each one of you by name! May God shower blessings on all of you, on your concerns, on those close to you; may the Lord fill your hearts completely with His grace and his heavenly joy!

If here on Earth I am not able to hug you, then in Heaven I will embrace each of you, for we shall have all of Eternity at our disposal. Now, from the depths of my heart, with love and exuberance I tell you all:

Thank you for your love for Jesus! How wonderful that it unites us all in one Body, in His Church! What a marvelous and ineffable happiness to belong to Jesus! What a great joy overwhelms us because He is with us, with each of us! I love and bless you all, my dear ones, with the love of Jesus Christ!

Very yours truly,
Pastor BK - Bakhytzhan Karimovich Kashkumbaev.

Religious Freedom Dialogue in Kyrgyzstan

This week Russian Ministries’ director for its Religious Freedom Initiative, Wade Kusack, participated in the Religion, Security, and Citizenship conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, organized by the Carnegie Endowment and the Institute for Global Engagement, which took place February 25-27^th. The conference provided a safe space for representatives of various religious group, government leaders, and representatives of civil society to discuss topics which included “Religion and identity,” “Religion and education,” and “Religion, the family, and society.”

The goal of the conference was to pass resolutions and offer recommendations to the Kyrgyz government regarding religious freedom. Russian Ministries’ participation in this conference was part of our strategy of creating dialogue between government, civil society, and Evangelical churches in the former Soviet Union, with the goal of softening religious legislation; changing the relationship between the government and the Church; and including Evangelical leaders in the discussion of relevant topics in their countries on an equal basis with so-called traditional religions.

Kyrgyzstan still bears traces of its Soviet past; many current leaders started their careers in the Soviet government. Corruption is widespread, and there are many divisions in Kyrgyz society, on ethnic, religious, and geographical lines. Society is becoming increasingly Islamized, with 25% of the Kyrgyz population supporting the implementation of Sharia Law.

Russian Ministries' Wade Kusack with Chris Seiple, President, Institute for Global Engagement, Washington DC, and Greg Mitchell, Co-chair, International Religious Roundtable, Washington DC

Religious legislation passed in Kyrgyzstan in 2008 is stricter than legislation passed in neighboring Kazakhstan in 2011. For a new church to register it must have 200 members, while Kazakh law requires only 50. There are also many activities that are forbidden on the basis of “unlawful religious activity.”

The second day of the conference was devoted to hearing from government representatives and to developing recommendations. Considering the existing limits on religious freedom in Kyrgyzstan, Russian Ministries’ Wade Kusack noted that he was “pleasantly surprised” that Evangelical leaders were able to participate in the conference on equal footing with other religious leaders, and that discussion was open and honest.  

Participants in the conference included a wide range of government officials, representatives of various religions, and representatives of non-government organizations. Notable participants included Mira Karybaeva, Office of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic; the Honorable Muratbek S. Imanaliev, former foreign minister of the republic of Kyrgyzstan, diplomat, president of Institute for Public Policy; Chris Seiple, President of the Institute for Global Engagement; and Sultana Parvanta, independent advisor, Kabul, Islamic Republic of Afganistan.

Russian Ministries' Wade Kusack with Sharshenbek Baibosunov, Chairman of the Kyrgyz Alliance of Churches, and Dmitriy Shlebaev, a Lutheran pastor

As a result of the conference, Russian Ministries was invited by Mira Karybaeva, from the Office of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, to participate in discussion about new government strategy in the area of religion. We agreed to continue dialogue and invited officials and members of the Kyrgyz religious community to Washington DC. We are planning a full scale International Religious Freedom Roundtable in Bishkek in the near future. 

After the conference, Russian Ministries’ Wade Kusack participated in meetings with the Interfaith Counsel of Kyrgyzstan, which unites representatives of the four most influential religious groups in Kyrgyzstan to discuss safe coexistence. Tomorrow, February 28^th, Wade will speak at the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University to future political scientists and government officials on issues of religious freedom.

KAZAKHSTAN: Criminal conviction, large "moral damages" - and new criminal case?

Retired Presbyterian Pastor Bakhytzhan Kashkumbayev was this afternoon (17 February) handed a four-year suspended prison term in Kazakhstan's capital Astana. He was convicted under Criminal Code Article 103 ("Intentional inflicting of serious harm to health") of harming the health of a church member, even though that church member has insisted to state authorities, Forum 18 News Service and others that her health was not harmed. He also has to pay his alleged "victim" large "moral damages" of 2 Million Tenge (about 65,800 Norwegian Kroner, 7,900 Euros or 10,800 US Dollars).

Lyazzat Almenova, the only person whose heath the state claims was harmed told Forum 18 in July 2013 that Kashkumbayev is "totally innocent and has not harmed my health at all" (see F18News 26 July 2013 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1860). She had earlier written to Astana Prosecutor's Office to say she is psychiatrically healthy, that a 2012 assessment of her was conducted illegally, and calling for the case to be abandoned (see F18News 12 June 2013 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1846).

Prosecutors for reasons they did not explain dropped four other criminal charges levied during the two year investigation. Forum 18 notes that on one of the charges a new criminal case could be launched. The state Agency of Religious Affairs (ARA) has also stated that Grace Presbyterian Church's legal status may be under threat (see below).

The retired Pastor's Grace Presbyterian Church has long been a target of state hostility. For example, after an October 2012 police raid on the Church, detained church members noted that police questioning displayed a curious lack of interest in the alleged harm they were supposedly investigating (see F18News 19 October 2012 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1756).

The 67-year-old retired Pastor Kashkumbayev was freed in the court room after exactly nine months' imprisonment, but will live under at present unclear restrictions. He will challenge the conviction.

"One of the strangest cases I have seen in terms of legality"

"In my experience as a lawyer, this is one of the strangest cases I have seen in terms of legality," Pastor Kashkumbayev's lawyer Nurlan Beysekeyev told Forum 18 after the verdict was handed down orally. "It was not just strange, but from the standpoint of the law, all types of violations occurred, when the case was opened, when it was being investigated and during the trial."

The case against Pastor Kashkumbayev, who led Astana's Grace Church until his retirement in October 2011, originated in 2011 amid claims he had harmed the health of church member Almenova, and the criminal case was formally lodged on 11 February 2012. The defence has strongly contested the legality of the trial (see F18News 22 January 2014 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1918).

Both Kashkumbayev and Almenova rejected the claims. Kashkumbayev was only informed of the exact nature of the criminal case on 17 May 2013, the day of his arrest (see F18News 20 May 2013 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1837), according to case documents seen by Forum 18.

New criminal case?

By the time the case reached court on 22 January 2014, prosecutors had added accusations that retired pastor Kashkumbayev had harmed the health of another church member, had committed two counts of "religious extremism" and leading a religious organisation that harms individuals' health (see F18News 22 January 2014 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1918).

However, during the trial Prosecutor Olzhas Shalabayev withdrew all but one of the charges with no explanation. The specific accusation of harming another named church member was handed back to prosecutors, the lawyer Beysekeyev told Forum 18. "A new criminal case could be launched against Pastor Kashkumbayev," he warned.

"They shouldn't have violated his rights"

Atheist writer Aleksandr Kharlamov, who has like Pastor Kashkumbayev also been subjected to arrest, detention and forcible psychiatric examination, welcomed Kashkumbayev's release from prison. "They shouldn't have violated his rights," he told Forum 18 from Ridder in North Kazakhstan Region on 17 February. "I'm glad he's now been released." 

Like Kashkumbayev, Kharlamov spent one month's forced detention in a psychiatric hospital in Almaty in 2013, a doctor telling him that he had been sent to the psychiatric hospital "because you are an inconvenient person for the authorities" (see F18News 7 October 2013 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1884). .

Kharlamov is still facing criminal charges for articles he wrote in defence of atheism. He is alleged to have broken Criminal Code Article 164 Part 1 by allegedly "inciting religious hatred" (see F18News 22 January 2014 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1918).

He wrote to various state agencies on 27 January calling for the criminal case to be dropped. "I have received no response," he told Forum 18. "They're clearly still thinking about it."

Other violations of freedom of religion or belief continue

The conviction of Kashkumbayev came as the criminal investigation against New Life Pentecostal Church in Almaty may have been behind the exit ban (since removed) which prevented Pastor Maksim Maksimov and his wife Larisa from leaving Kazakhstan on 12 February (see below).

Raids on meetings for worship continue, most recently with a raid on a Baptist Sunday service on 9 February in Aktobe (see below).

The authorities have also begun moves to expel the Din-Muhammed Tatar-Bashkir mosque community from their mosque in Petropavl (see F18News 5 February 2014 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1924).

Conviction

Judge Gulzhakhan Ubasheva of Astana's Almaty District Court No. 2 found retired Pastor Kashkumbayev guilty of violating Criminal Code Article 103, Part 1 ("Intentional inflicting of serious harm to health"). This carries a punishment of restrictions on freedom or imprisonment of between three and seven years. Prosecutor Shalabayev had asked in court for a three-year prison term.

Judge Ubasheva gave him a four-year prison term, suspended for three years, church members present in court told Forum 18 after the hearing. They said the written verdict is due within 15 days, though the Judge said it should be ready by 21 February. They insisted Pastor Kashkumbayev will appeal against the conviction.

Judge Ubasheva also ruled that pastor Kashkumbayev must sign a statement not to leave the city and must follow "appropriate conduct". It is unclear what exactly this means.

Kashkumbayev was also ordered to pay more than 2 million Tenge "moral damages" to the "victim", including legal costs. As a court ruled that Lyazzat Almenova is not responsible for her own decisions, and appointed her sister Guldana Almenova as her representative, it remains unclear who the money should be paid to.

Pastor Kashkumbayev's lawyer Beysekeyev said he thinks the money will be due to be paid not to Lyazzat Almenova but to her sister Guldana.

Svetlana Glushkova of Radio Free Europe's Kazakh Service noted that the many church members present in court were visibly upset by the verdict.

"I'm satisfied"

Guldana Almenova lodged the original complaint against Pastor Kashkumbayev in July 2011, according to court documents, alleging that her sister's health had been harmed. Lyazzat Almenova was twice forcibly incarcerated in psychiatric hospital and given a diagnosis of "paranoid schizophrenia of episodic type", a diagnosis she has consistently resolutely rejected (see F18News 26 July 2013 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1860)..

Police warrants for October 2012 raids on the Grace Church and the unconnected New Life in Oral in West Kazakhstan Region stated at the time that the complaint was lodged by the sisters' mother. Church members have repeatedly strongly denied the allegations. They noted that police questioning ranged far beyond the alleged "harm", and that police and state media also made unsubstantiated claims that the Church uses "hallucinogenic" substances for Communion. The alleged "hallucinogens" were a commonly drunk local red tea used as a non-alcoholic communion wine (see F18News 19 October 2012 http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1756).

"What do you think my reaction to the verdict is?" Guldana Almenova told Forum 18 after the verdict was given. "The court recognised that he [Pastor Kashkumbayev] is guilty of causing serious harm. I'm satisfied." Asked whether her sister Lyazzat or she will get the money, Guldana Almenova responded: "I don't know. But it's not about the money – it's about the fate of an individual."

Told that Lyazzat Almenova had insisted to Forum 18 that her health was not harmed, Guldana Almenova responded: "She's not in a state to give adequate answers to questions." Both sisters were in court during Pastor Kashkumbayev's trial. After the verdict, Lyazzat Almenova told Glushkova of Radio Free Europe's Kazakh Service that she is fully healthy.

Congressional Briefing Brings Attention to Religious Freedom Issues

The global community has continued to observe an alarming increase in religious freedom restrictions and violations in the countries of the former Soviet Union in 2013. As a result, many religious groups, including evangelical Christians, have experienced increased discrimination, suppression, and in some cases persecution including fines, arrest and imprisonment; forced closure and liquidation of churches; confiscation and destruction of Christian literature; and propaganda by the government-controlled media.

In response to this alarming trend, Russian Ministries, together with the office of Congressman Joe Pitts sponsored a Congressional Briefing on Religious Freedom Issues in the Former Soviet Union on Capitol Hill on February 5, 2014, on the eve of the Presidential Prayer Breakfast. Other partners included the Religious Liberty Partnership, the Institute for Global Engagement, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Stefanus Alliance International, the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, Religious Liberty Commission of World Evangelical Alliance, and Light to the People.

The purpose of the briefing was to create awareness among the global community about the state of religious freedom in the former Soviet Union, to examine increasing religious restrictions in Eurasia, and to foster constructive dialogue between Eurasian civil, religious and government leaders in order to develop solutions to this critical global issue.

Sergey Rakhuba, President of Russian Ministries, gave an overview of developments since the Soviet Union collapsed 23 years ago: “During the last two decades, changes in the political, religious, and cultural landscapes in the countries of the former Soviet Union/Eurasia have shined the spotlight on religious freedom again, but not for the right reasons. We have been forced once again to ask ourselves how we should react to the arrest and imprisonment of pastors, the liquidation of churches, the confiscation and destruction of Christian literature, and other clear violations of religious freedom.   That is why we have gathered here today—to ask ourselves why the global community should be concerned about this issue and to learn, discuss, analyze, and suggest solutions to this alarming trend.”

Christian leaders from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan talked about the state of religious freedom in their countries and in the region. One of the goals of the briefing was to encourage dialogue between religious leaders, civil society, and the government.  Therefore it was significant that in addition to Rasim Khalilov, general secretary of the Evangelical Alliance of Azerbaijan there was also a representative of the Azeri government in attendance as a panelist, Nijat Mammadli, head of the International Relations Department of the State Committee on Religious Associations of Azerbaijan.  

Dr. Gregory Komendant, president of the Ukrainian Bible Society, recalled the period immediately after the fall of the former Soviet Union: “Freedom came to us as an unexpected gift, and we didn’t know how to take full advantage of it. “When it came,” he continued, “we thought we would catch up with America, but unfortunately, we did not have enough strength for the long-haul. Soon came regulations and prohibitions.”

Dr. Michael Cherenkov, Vice President of the Association for Spiritual Renewal, believes that Russia dictates the climate for religious freedom in the region: “The former Soviet sphere remains strongly and almost solely dependent upon what happens in Russia. In the last year, Putin’s diplomacy helped Russia restore its influence on Ukraine, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan, with whom Russia is seeking a more active form of economic and military partnership. In Belarus and Kazakhstan, who are already members of a customs union with Russia, Putin’s influence took the form of an increase in political and religious repression.”

Representative Trent Franks of Arizona, founder and co-chair of the International Religious Freedom Caucus, noted that three former Soviet republics joined Pew Research Center’s list of countries with “very high government restrictions on religion” in 2012 for the first time. These countries joined a list that already included Russia and Uzbekistan. The number of Eurasian countries on this list, and the fact that three of them are recent additions, is statistical confirmation of the alarming trend noted by global observers in the region.

Congressman Franks went on to discuss the case of Bakhitzhan Kashkumbaev, a retired pastor from Astana, Kazakhstan, who has been in prison since May 2013. “Pastor Kashkumbaev was doing nothing more than exercising his faith as pastor,” noted Congressman Franks, “but was imprisoned on charges that included harming health, and leading an organization that harms others. His penalty for these charges could include as much as 6-8 years in prison. Today’s round table is incredibly important to elevate cases like Pastor Kashkumbaev’s, and I hope we have some success on his behalf.”

Dr. Cherenkov believes that the main culprit behind the lack of religious freedom in former Soviet countries is not government restriction, but “the passivity of society and the lack of action on the part of religious organizations. The key to transforming society,” he continues, “is transforming the Church. What can transform the Church? Training new leaders; partnerships between churches; keeping the media and society informed; independent experts providing quality analysis of trends in the relationship between the Church, society, and the government; international support for progressive initiatives; and a movement of Christians expanding the horizons of missions in the professional sphere.”

Russian Ministries is already in the business of transforming the Church and society through programs like School Without Walls, which seeks to awaken Next Generation Christians in the former Soviet Union from their passivity and train and equip them to make a difference in their churches and communities. This Congressional Briefing was a part of the second step of this approach: raising awareness and mobilizing international support for the Church in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Our hope is that the partnerships and dialogue fostered by this briefing and similar initiatives will bring about real change in the lives of believers suffering for their faith in the former Soviet Union.

Kyrgyzstan May Put New Restrictions on the Church

The head of the Government Commission for Religious Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, Orozbek Moldaliev, stated on February 3rd that there are plans to make needed changes to Kyrgyz legislation. One area in need of change is the legislation regulating the registration of religious organizations. “There are unregistered organizations. This all needs to be taken care of,” he said.

He also noted that after the fall of the Soviet Union there was a big growth in the number of Protestant and other “sects” in Kyrgyzstan, which spread, according to him, pseudo-Christian, pseudo-Orthodox religious ideas. “Many people were confused, they were longing for something spiritual, so these organizations took advantage of that,” he stated.

These intended changes to legislation and similar initiatives in the Central Asia Region will be one topic of our congressional briefing and press conference in Washington D.C. this week on religious freedom issues in the former Soviet Union. Tere have been threats for years now in Kyrgyzstan and neighboring Kazakhstan to tighten legislation, making it harder for religious organizations not belonging to the state-protected Orthodox Church or Islam, to operate. In many former Soviet republics changing rules for church registration have been used as a tool to make the lives of churches difficult, if not impossible.

The young Next Generation leaders in our School Without Walls program have been finding creative solutions to government restrictions for years, so we know that our work will continue no matter what changes are made to Kyrgyz legislation, just as it does in nearby Uzbekistan. However pray for the Kyrgyz parliament as they consider these new initiatives, and pray for Kyrgyz believers, that they would have courage and creativity as they worship and serve God, no matter what.

Source (in Russian): http://kg.akipress.org/news:591935