{"id":43212,"date":"2022-07-19T14:00:07","date_gmt":"2022-07-19T05:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=43212"},"modified":"2022-07-19T15:24:01","modified_gmt":"2022-07-19T06:24:01","slug":"vomk-report-213","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2022\/07\/19\/vomk-report-213\/","title":{"rendered":"RUSSIA: 15 EVANGELISTS DETAINED, LEADER FINED FOR EVANGELISM RALLY"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”43199″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”15 evangelists were temporarily detained and questioned and the group\u2019s leader fined for an evangelism rally in Bogoroditsk, 250 km south of Moscow, on June 9.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”headline”][vc_column_text]According to Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr<\/span>.<\/span> Hyun Sook Foley, t<\/span>he group, composed of unregistered Baptists from the surrounding regions of <\/span>Tula, Smolensk and <\/span>Tver<\/span> and led by <\/span>Brother Kovalevich Yuri Sergeevich<\/span>, a <\/span>presbyter <\/span>from <\/span>the church in Tula<\/span>, <\/span>had been <\/span>sharing the gospel and handing out gospel newspapers and tracts <\/span>at an evangelistic rally <\/span>when police approached in response to a complaint from a Russian Orthodox priest<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cTrinity Sunday was June 12 in Russia, <\/span>and June 9 was declared Friendship Day in the country, so <\/span>the group <\/span>used the opportunity to <\/span>share a <\/span>gospel <\/span>message about friendship with God, along with music from a brass band,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201c<\/span>Eyewitnesses say police passed by <\/span>peacefully <\/span>during the rally<\/span>, and that members of the public even called for an encore from the band.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_single_image image=”43226″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that it was during the <\/span>band\u2019s <\/span>encore that a man later identified as an Orthodox <\/span>clergyman disrupted the event.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Eyewitnesses say he approached the band w<\/span>aving his arms<\/span> and then<\/span> snatched from the hands of some of the listeners the Christian materials <\/span>they had received from the <\/span>evangelists,<\/span>\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cWithout<\/span> reading it, <\/span>he <\/span>tore it up and threw it on the ground, shouting that they were sectarians. Then he called the police and left.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]According to Representative Foley, when police arrived, <\/span>Brother Kovalevich Yuri Sergeevich<\/span>, a <\/span>presbyter of the church in Tula<\/span>, voluntarily identified himself as the <\/span>person <\/span>in charge of the event. \u201c<\/span>Police asked whether they had permission to hold the event, and Brother <\/span>Kovalevich <\/span>explained that they were using their constitutional right to confess their faith, play instruments, and <\/span>distribute registered periodicals. The crowd was reportedly <\/span>disappointed that the band was stopped from playing further.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that after <\/span>Kovalevich<\/span> gave his statement to the police at the scene, they told him he was free to go but that the other evangelists were required to <\/span>go to the police station to give statements and verify their identities. \u201cBrother <\/span>Kovalevich<\/span> insisted on accompanying the<\/span> evangelists<\/span> to the station<\/span>. <\/span>From 3PM to 2AM police took each of their <\/span>statements<\/span>, <\/span>and <\/span>the brothers passed the time by cheerfully<\/span> singing hymns<\/span>. After that, <\/span>police said that <\/span>all the evangelists <\/span>were <\/span>permitted to leave but that now Brother <\/span>Kovalevich<\/span> was required to stay,\u201d says Representative Foley.<\/span> \u201cBut the evangelists refused to leave until Brother <\/span>Kovalevich<\/span> was permitted to leave with them.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]According to Representative Foley<\/span>, <\/span>Kovalelevich<\/span> was charged with<\/span> holding a public event in the form of a picket with more than 15 participants<\/span>.<\/span> He was arraigned o<\/span>n June 11 <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>Bogoroditsk<\/span> Interdistrict<\/span> Court of the Tula Region<\/span>. \u201cThe <\/span>judged<\/span> found him guilty and fined him <\/span>25,000 Rubles (<\/span>approx. 530,000 KRW)<\/span>,<\/span> noting that <\/span>he <\/span>took into consideration that <\/span>Brother <\/span>Kovalelevich<\/span> has seven <\/span>young <\/span>children<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Kovalelevich<\/span> has <\/span>appealed<\/span> the decision.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”43208″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Evangelist Yury Sergeevich Kovalevich outside the Bogoroditsk Interdistrict Court of the Tula Region on June 11, 2022. (Photo courtesy of International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christians \u2013 Baptists)” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0a0a|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”43211″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”A group of 15 evangelists from the Tula region detained at the police station in Bogoroditsk on June 9, 2022. (Photo courtesy of International Union of Churches of Evangelical Christians \u2013 Baptists)” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0a0a|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Certainly<\/span> the grounds for appeal are very strong,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cAs Brother <\/span>Kovalelevich<\/span> note<\/span>d <\/span>in his appeal, <\/span>he and <\/span>the <\/span>evangelists at the rally <\/span>did not shout any slogans, hold banners or posters, wear any symbols, <\/span>or <\/span>interfere with the movement of passers-by<\/span>. They <\/span>complied <\/span>fully <\/span>with police<\/span> instructions<\/span>.<\/span> The gospel newspaper they distributed, called <\/span>\u2018<\/span>Do You Believe?<\/span>\u2019<\/span>, is registered with the <\/span>Federal Service for the Supervision of Mass Media and Communications. <\/span>The<\/span> other Christian materials they were handing out, <\/span>the Gospel of John and <\/span>t<\/span>he Lord\u2019<\/span>s<\/span> Prayer<\/span>, <\/span>are<\/span> from <\/span>the <\/span>s<\/span>ynodal translation of the Bible, which is freely distributed throughout Russia and is not included <\/span>o<\/span>n the list of extremist materials.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]According to <\/span>Representative Foley<\/span>, <\/span>Voice of the Martyrs Korea is calling for <\/span>prayers <\/span>for <\/span>B<\/span>rother Kovalevich<\/span>. \u201cPray that the <\/span>Lord moves the <\/span>appeals court <\/span>to <\/span>overturn the ruling of the <\/span>Bogoroditsk<\/span> Interdistrict<\/span> Court and <\/span>cancels the fine <\/span>levied against <\/span>our <\/span>brother<\/span>,\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley<\/span>.<\/span> \u201cPray <\/span>for the Lord\u2019s care for <\/span>Brother Kovalevich<\/span>\u2019s family <\/span>with <\/span>seven young children. Pray for <\/span>the Lord to bless <\/span>all 15 evangelists. Pray <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>Lord <\/span>to <\/span>powerfully use the <\/span>message they shared about friendship with God during <\/span>the evangelism rally on June 9<\/span>.<\/span> Pray <\/span>as <\/span>according to James 4:4 that <\/span>the Lord will move <\/span>even<\/span> Brother <\/span>Kovalevich<\/span>\u2019s persecutors to <\/span>turn away from friendship with the world and <\/span>to <\/span>friendship with God.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that Voice of the Martyrs Korea supports family members of Christians imprisoned, fined, or martyred as a result of their faithful witness in countries where evangelical Christianity is restricted. Donations can be made to the Families of Martyrs and Families of Prisoners (FOM\/FOP) fund at <\/span>www.vomkorea.com\/en\/donation<\/span><\/a> or via electronic transfer to:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uad6d\ubbfc\uc740\ud589<\/span> (KB Bank) 463501-01-243303<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uc608\uae08\uc8fc<\/span> (Account Holder): (<\/span>\uc0ac<\/span>)<\/span>\uc21c\uad50\uc790\uc758\uc18c\ub9ac<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Please include the phrase \u201cFOM\/FOP\u201d (for \u201cFamilies of Martyrs and Families of Prisoners\u201d) with the donation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_video link=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hhvq4S-IknY”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”43199″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”15 evangelists were temporarily detained and questioned and the group\u2019s leader fined for an evangelism rally in Bogoroditsk, 250 km south of Moscow, on June 9.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":43200,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[857,235,869,140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-russian-special","category-special-column","category-china-special","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43212"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43212\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}