Belarusian President Lukashenko says access to the temple remains unobstructed during Easter festivities.

President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus has confirmed that visiting churches during the Easter holidays is not prohibited, as reported by BELTA during a meeting in Minsk. In fact, Lukashenko has expressed his intention to visit small churches in the regions for Easter.

The Belarusian leader has conveyed to the leadership of all churches and denominations that they should not prohibit anyone from going to church during the Easter holidays. He has further urged the clergy to keep church visits short and has emphasized the need for special places for the traditional blessing of eggs and Easter bread to be set outdoors, not inside, to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

Lukashenko has made it clear that it is every individual's personal choice to attend church during the Easter holidays. However, he has also emphasized the need for precautionary measures given the current epidemiological situation, though he did not specify what these might be.

While the Catholic Easter has already passed in Belarus, some people did gather around the churches, albeit not in large numbers. The majority of Belarusians celebrate Orthodox Easter this week, and the Belarusian government has instructed Orthodox believers to follow pandemic-related safety measures during the celebrations.

Lukashenko has stated that he will be attending church for Easter, as it is his tradition to do so for Christmas and Easter. He has also requested that all sermons be held outside the church during the Easter holidays.

In light of these developments, it appears that President Lukashenko is striking a balance between respecting the religious freedom of Belarusians and promoting safety during the Easter holidays amidst the ongoing pandemic.

Belarusian President Lukashenko says access to the temple remains unobstructed during Easter festivities.