Metropolitan Philaret Serves Memorial for Minsk Attack Victims

Today marks the 40th day since the terrorist attack in Minsk, Belarus. The day is being marked with a memorial served by Metropolitan Filaret (Vakhromeyev) of the Belorussian Orthodox Church in Minsk's Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, with President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus in attendance. More (in Russian) here.

Lukashenko Denies Existence of Human Rights Issues

In a recent address to the Belorussian National Assembly President Alexander Lukashenko denied the existence of problems for ethnic, sexual, or religious minorities in Belarus. Belarus has been criticized for years for its maintenance of a Soviet-style dictatorship since the 1991 collapse of the USSR and its suppression of the human rights of its ethnic minorities, particularly those of the Polish population in western Belarus. More here.