OCCUPIED UKRAINE: AUTHORITIES SEEK TO DEPORT NATIVE-BORN PASTOR FOR MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES
Soviet authorities imprisoned Pastor Vladimir Pavlovich Rytikov for his faith from 1979 to 1982. But now, authorities in Krasnodon are seeking to do something Soviet authorities never did: Deport Pastor Rytikov from the country of his birth because of his ministry.
“In the last week of April alone, four Unregistered Baptist ministers faced court hearings in Russia and Russia-occupied territories, which raises serious questions about religious freedom,” says Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley. “In three of the cases, the ministers are facing fines. But the case of Pastor Rytikov deserves special attention because the punishment he is facing is deportation from the place of his birth, where he has lived for 67 years.”
Representative Foley says that Pastor Rytikov was born in Krasnodon in 1959, in what was then the Voroshilovgrad Region of Soviet Ukraine. The son of an Unregistered Baptist pastor, Rytikov also became an Unregistered Baptist pastor. He and his father were sent to prison by Soviet authorities from 1979 to 1982 because of their Unregistered Baptist activities.
“The Unregistered Baptist congregations have always refused to register with the government because they believe registration is a form of government interference in church matters, and it potentially opens the door to further government involvement and control,” says Representative Foley. “They maintain that both biblically and legally they have the right to gather together for worship without state permission.”
Russia disagrees. They closed more than ten Unregistered Baptist congregations last year across the Russian Federation. The court appearances of the four Unregistered Baptist church ministers at the end of April show that the crackdown is continuing.
astor Rytikov and his wife Lyudmila, surrounded by praying supporters taken at a previous court hearing (Source: Urgent Prayer messages of IUC ECB Telegram Channel)
But according to Representative Foley, Pastor Rytikov’s case is different.
“Authorities have been threatening Pastor Rytikov’s church for a very long time, but since he continues his ministry and refuses to register the church, they are intensifying their threats against him and now seeking to deport him from the land of his birth,” says Representative Foley. “Perhaps because he is in the occupied Ukrainian territories they may be treating him especially harshly.”
Pastor Rytikov has served as pastor of the Krasnodon church since 1995.
On January 25th, Russian authorities raided the church.
“Before the authorities detained him, he stood in the pulpit and prayed for both the church and the authorities who were raiding it,” says Representative Foley. “The authorities warned Pastor Rytikov and the leaders of the congregation that if they did not register the church, it would be shut down. But Pastor Rytikov simply blessed the authorities who detained him, and then he shared with them about Christ.”
On March 21, Pastor Rytikov posted on the Unregistered Baptist Telegram channel that officers from the Migration Service came to his home. “They called me out and said: ‘Your residence permit has been revoked’,” Pastor Rytikov wrote. “I have two weeks to leave for another country—anywhere, they said, ‘Go to Poland, if you must.’ They said that only my residence permit had been revoked, but not Lyudmila’s (my wife’s). On what grounds? They did not answer. I said, ‘I was born here and have lived here for 67 years, and now they’re deporting me. What if I don’t go anywhere?’ They said, ‘We’ll have you executed,’ and they’ll take measures to ensure my departure. Pray that the Lord will preserve and protect us. Lyudmila and I prayed and said, ‘Lord, Thy will be done!’”
Representative Foley says that at the preliminary court hearing for Pastor Rytikov on April 28, around forty supporters gathered in front of the courthouse but no one except the pastor was permitted inside.
“A nine-page indictment against Pastor Rytikov was presented, all centered around alleged missionary activity,” says Representative Foley. “Authorities requested that Pastor Rytikov be deported.”
Pastor Rytikov and his wife Lyudmila, surrounded by praying supporters (Source: Urgent Prayer messages of IUC ECB Telegram Channel)
Pastor Rytikov is due back in court on May 20, at which time the court’s decision is expected to be announced.
Representative Foley says Voice of the Martyrs Korea is urging Christians to pray for Pastor Rytikov and for the court who will decide the case.
“Pastor Rytikov continues to trust the Lord and remains in good spirits,” says Representative Foley. “For Pastor Rytikov and also for the three other Unregistered Baptists who were brought to courts at the end of April, now is the time for us to intercede on their behalf to the Lord.”
Those who are interested in Voice of the Martyrs Korea’s ministry in partnership with Christians in Russia and Ukraine can learn more at https://vomkorea.com/en/project/russia-ministry/.