Lukashenko Tightens Grip on Belarus' Religious Groups

New Law Requires All Religious Organizations to Reapply for State Registration Amid Crackdown on Dissent

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has signed a law that mandates all religious groups and denominations to reapply for state registration, which authorities can refuse.
The law is seen as a part of Lukashenko's crackdown on dissent, which has intensified since a disputed presidential election in 2020.
The new law gives authorities broad powers to deny registration and to shut down any religious organization.
Protestant churches, popular among younger people, are expected to be the main target of the new law.
Analysts suggest that Belarusian authorities are seeking to tighten control over the entire public sphere ahead of upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections.