Baptist Union President Convicted in Uzbekistan
A Uzbekistan court recently convicted the president of the Baptist Union of Uzbekistan and two other Baptist leaders for allegedly "evading taxes" and involving children in religious activity without their parents' consent.
Pavel Peychev, who is also the president of the Union of Evangelical Christian Baptist of Middle Asia, was convicted for failing to pay taxes for church-run summer camps, according to Forum 18. However, Peychev denied that the church financially profited from the camps and had evaded taxes.
The parents of the children listed in the case also said investigators had fabricated their statements.
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Peychev and two other Baptist leaders – Elena Kurbatova, UECHB accountant, and Dmitriy Pitirimov, director of the Joy Baptist Children's Camp – were ordered to pay a fine amount that is about 260 times the monthly minimum wage in the country, or about $17,280. They were also ordered to pay back taxes.
"The Baptist World Alliance views with deep concern recent developments in Uzbekistan," said Baptist World Alliance General Secretary Neville Callam, in a statement Thursday.
Callam said reports suggest the charges and trial were "aimed at undermining or curtailing religious activities within Uzbekistan."
Uzbekistan was formerly a part of the Soviet Union and gained its independence in 1991. It has an authoritarian president with little power spread outside of the executive branch.
The country is known for its human rights, including religious freedom violations. Authorities frequently raid religious services and those present are subjected to interrogation and harassment. Officials also confiscate religious materials, and some detainees are physically abused.
During the trial of the Baptist leaders, as many as 80 people from various Baptist congregations gathered outside of the court to support them. The trial began on Sept. 24 and concluded Oct. 19. The verdict was given on Oct. 29 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital.
The European Baptist Federation, which includes Baptist unions in Central Asia, said it heard most of the accusations are based on fabricated charges.
"The authorities want to limit the activities of the Baptists and stop the leaders," said the EBF, which is one of six regional fellowships of the BWA.
Baptist unions in the EBF are being mobilized to pray for the Baptists in Uzbekistan and to advocate on the leaders' behalf at Uzbek embassies in their respective countries.
