The work on re-registration of religious organizations was analyzed in the Vitebsk region

A seminar-meeting on the re-registration of religious organizations was held at the Vitebsk Regional Institute for the Development of Education with the participation of the Plenipotentiary Representative for Religious and National Affairs, Alexander Rumak.

– This is happening in accordance with the adopted new version of the Law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations." This process does not hold any surprises, as all organizations in our country undergo re-registration periodically. The last time it was held was 20 years ago, – Alexander Rumak noted in a conversation with media representatives. – Extensive preparatory work was carried out for this, standard draft charters of religious communities for almost all existing religious associations were developed to ensure their compliance with the law – in order to assist local authorities, and this process went smoothly.

There are more than 3,400 religious communities in our country, Alexander Rumak noted, and they will all apply for re-registration. Training for employees of the ideological work departments of city and district executive committees will help find common approaches so that the re-registration process proceeds calmly, without creating social tension, and without disrupting the worship service. The re-registration must be completed by July 5, 2025.

This is being done to update this sphere and to ensure that religious organizations that comply with the requirements of the law continue their activities. Similar seminars are being held in all regions of Belarus.

The Plenipotentiary Representative for Religious and National Affairs noted that the re-registration of public associations and political parties has already been carried out in the same way.

– Given that there are 525 religious organizations in the Vitebsk region, representing 18 denominations, there is serious work ahead, – noted Vyacheslav Durnov, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee. – Organizations must collect and submit the necessary documents to the registering authority. Our task as civil servants responsible for the implementation of the law is to organize this work so that there are no issues, not only within the religious organizations themselves, but also on the part of parishioners. The registration process in the Vitebsk region is already underway. It is important now that a clear algorithm of activities is communicated to everyone.

Guests of the event were introduced to the exhibition of works by the winners of the republican competition "Library – Center for Spiritual Enlightenment and Prosperity".

Alexander Rumak also awarded diplomas to the best district executive committees for the successful implementation of the project of the Commissioner for Religious and National Affairs "Administrative Region of Belarus – Organization of Compatriots Abroad".