DISINFO: The West is trying to topple Lukashenka through control of Belarus' Orthodox Church
SUMMARY
The West is using the same scenario as in Ukraine to grant autocephaly to a schismatic church structure and, through this, to undermine the legitimate government of Belarus. The non-recognised church of Belarusian immigrants who left the country in the 1940s is aiming to receive autocephaly by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and opposition leader Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya is part of this plan.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring narrative consistent with pro-Kremlin messages about Western attempts to stage a colour revolution in Belarus this time by claiming that the Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church is encouraged by the West to split from the Russian Orthodox Church.
It is also a pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on alleged Western plans to tear Belarus away from Russia. There is no evidence that the West is trying to use the schismatic church to topple the Belarusian regime.
Additionally, it was the Ecumenical Patriarchate, not the US, which decided to grant the autocephaly to the Ukrainian church. The final decision was made in January 2019, when all members of the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate signed off the Tomos of autocephaly. The signing of the Tomos happened after months of careful preparation and consideration by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Holy Synod.
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