Rev. Andrzej Yuknevich OMI is a priest of the Order of the Missionaries of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate based in the diocesan sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima in Šumilina (Viciebsk voblasc). He is also the head of the coordination group of abbots and representatives of monastic communities in Belarus.
Rev. Andrzej Yukhnievich OMI together with Rev. Pavel Lemekh OMI was detained on 8 May 2024. The detention of the priests took place right after a meeting of the Viciebs diocese priests and novitiates which took place in their church. In addition, one Catholic believer from the Viciebsk diocese was also detained.
For some time the reason of detention was not known, and according to the leadership of the Order, the priests are accused of “subversive activity to the detriment of the Belarusian state.”
Before the trial, the priests were placed in a detention center in Viciebsk. The trial took place on 10 May 2024 via Skype. The clergy were subjected to administrative arrest. Rev. Yukhnievich got 15 days of arrest. The judgement was made by Natalia Karablina, judge of the Pieršamajski District Court of Viciebsk.
The priest was found guilty under Part 1 of Art. 24.23 Code of Administrative Offenses (Violation of the established procedure for picketing) for posting photographs of himself with a white-red-white flag and the flag of Ukraine on Facebook.
After 15 days, the priest was still not released. He was immediately subjected to a second administrative arrest under Art. 11.19 (Distribution of extremist materials).
Currently, the priest’s total prison term is at least 45 days.
On 4 June 2024, it became known that a criminal case had been opened against the priest. He was transferred from a temporary detention centre to a pre-trial detention centre.
On 25 June 2024, he was recognized by human rights activists as a political prisoner.
Tortured.
