Law enforcement officers have detained a priest in the capital of Belarus because he "prayed for the defenders of Ukraine". The security forces also did not like his "nationalist tattoos" and passion for video games. 

Source: Belarusian news outlet Dzerkalo (Mirror)

Details: Orthodox priest Dionysiy Korostelev was denounced because he led a prayer service for the defenders of Ukraine. In the video with the apology, the priest explained that on 1 January, he received a note about the prayer service "for the soldiers and defenders of Ukraine" and served it. One of the visitors to the temple expressed dissatisfaction with it.

Security officials claim that Korostelev "preached hostile and aggressive rhetoric, trying to incite hatred". They have also stated that he was held accountable for participating in the protests and has "nationalist tattoos". According to the news outlet, this is the coat of arms of Pahonia, which is included in the state list of historical and cultural values of Belarus. [Pahonia is the historical Belarusian name for the coat of arms of Lithuania, which is widely used by the opposition in Belarus - ed.]

In addition, law enforcement officers did not like that the priest "plays computer games online under a strange nickname in his free time" and "spreads WRW symbols (the white-red-white flag of Belarus) and relevant ideas".

Dzerkalo reports that the priest was denounced by Olga Bondareva, a pro-government activist from Grodno who "has long been trying to clean up the cultural space of Belarus". In the autumn of 2021, security forces had already searched Korostelev's apartment. The grounds for the search are unknown.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!