The Orthodox Church, Elections and Protests in Belarus

The article analyzes the attitudes of the Belarussian Orthodox Church towards the election and the protest movement in Belarus. The 2020 presidential election, where A. Lukashenko's victory was declared with more than 80% of the popular vote, caused a mixed reaction in the Belarussian society. The mass protests occurred in the country; during the suppression of these protests, the facts of violence and cruelty on the part of the national security forces were recorded. The Belarusian Orthodox Church, being the most numerous religious organisation in Belarus, preferred in general to stay away from the political turmoil. None the less, some priests publicly expressed their political preferences; they also spoke about the need for fair elections and the inadmissibility of cruelty and violence. In the first weeks after the election, the Church chose the path of peacemaking, calling for an end to the violence, as well as providing active help to the victims. It is outlined that the actions and words of the representatives of the Belarusian Orthodox Church proceeded from the understanding that the mission of the Church is of a spiritual and social nature, while the political and ideological component cannot and should not have a priority character in this mission