Write a letter to a prisoner of conscience — a Catholic priest persecuted for his faith.

As Christmas approaches, we all hope for miracles — and believe that miracles can happen.

But today, in Belarus, a Catholic priest is behind bars for his faith.

Father Henryk Okolotovich, a parish priest from Volozhin, was arrested in November 2023 and later sentenced to eleven years in prison on fabricated charges of “high treason.” His real “crime” was remaining faithful to his conscience and refusing to serve the political aims of the regime.

This Advent, Our House launches the campaign “Letters for a Prisoner of Conscience: Free Father Henryk” — inviting everyone to send him letters and postcards of solidarity. Every letter matters. In Belarusian prisons, such messages raise a prisoner’s social status, protect them from abuse, and — most importantly — give them the strength to survive.

Even if letters arrive slowly or are returned, they still work: each one tells the authorities that Father Henryk is not forgotten, that the world is watching.

You can send your message directly to the address below or email a scanned copy to info@ndbelarus.com — we will publish it and forward it to Belarus through our trusted channels to ensure it reaches him.

Address: 213800, Republic of Belarus, Mogilev Region, Bobruisk, Sikorsky Street 1, Correctional Colony No. 2, for Fr. Henryk (Henadz) Okolotovich

Write a few warm, simple lines — words of faith, solidarity, and hope. Avoid political phrases to ensure safe delivery. Full story of Father Henryk’s case below.

Human rights violation dossier:

Henryk (Henadz) Okolotovich

Prepared by: International Center for Civil Initiatives “Our House”

Date: November 2025

1. Personal information

2. Basic information

Fr. Henryk Okolotovich is a Catholic priest and former pastor of the Volozhin parish in Belarus.
He was arrested in mid-November 2023 and convicted on 30 December 2024 by the Minsk Regional Court on charges of “high treason” (Article 356 of the Criminal Code of Belarus). The trial was conducted behind closed doors.

Human-rights organizations including “Viasna”, “Christian Vision”, and “Our House” recognize him as a political prisoner and consider the case politically motivated.

3. Chronology of events

• Mid-November 2023 (approx. 16 November) – Fr. Okolotovich was arrested and placed in the KGB (Belarusian State Security Committee) investigation prison in Minsk.

• 30 December 2024 – Minsk Regional Court sentenced him to 11 years of imprisonment in a high-security correctional colony on charges of “high treason”.

• 1 April 2025 – The Supreme Court of Belarus rejected his appeal and upheld the verdict.

• 20 April 2025 (approx.) – According to independent media (Nasha Niva), Fr. Okolotovich was transferred to Correctional Colony No. 2 in the city of Bobruisk (Mogilev Region).

• 31 October 2025 – Forum 18 News Service published an article by Felix Corley reporting that KGB officers had attempted to recruit Fr. Okolotovich to participate in a provocation against the Apostolic Nuncio (Vatican ambassador) in Minsk.

  • The KGB allegedly offered him freedom if he would invite the nuncio and secretly plant a flash drive on him.

  • He refused, saying: > “What you ask of me is a crime. I cannot betray God and I cannot commit such an act.”

  • KGB officers reportedly told him they would “come many more times so that perhaps he would change his mind.” Forum 18 confirmed these details via former political prisoner Andrey Krylov and the “Christian Vision” group.

4. Threats and risks

• Health risk: Fr. Okolotovich suffers from serious medical conditions (including a previous heart attack and gastric removal after cancer) and requires specialized treatment not available in prison.

• Psychological and spiritual pressure: Persistent KGB visits and attempts at recruitment for propaganda purposes pose ongoing psychological pressure.

• Isolation: Closed trial and restricted correspondence limit public oversight of his condition and treatment.

5. Current legal and other status

Since spring 2025, Henryk Okolotovich has been held in Correctional Colony No. 2, Bobruisk, Mogilev Region.

His health remains fragile; human-rights organizations note the lack of adequate medical care and the need for urgent international attention.

As of October 2025 Fr. Okolotovich remains in custody.

6. What support is needed

1. Letter Campaigns:

Send support letters and postcards to Fr. Henryk Okolotovich to show solidarity and ensure authorities know his case is being watched.

Address:

213800 Republic of Belarus, Mogilev Region, Bobruisk, Sikorsky St. 1,
Correctional Colony No. 2, to Fr. Henryk Okolotovich
(Letters should avoid political statements; simple words of support and faith are best.)

2. Public Awareness:
   Share information about his case on social media and in church communities with hashtags #FreeOkolotovich #Belarus #CatholicChurch.

3. International Pressure:
   Call on the EU, U.S., and Vatican diplomatic missions to demand his release and to raise his case in bilateral and international forums.
4. Humanitarian Assistance:
   Provide legal aid, medical support advocacy, and public campaign coordination through recognized human-rights networks.

7. Conclusion

The case of Fr. Henryk Okolotovich illustrates the use of criminal law to persecute members of the Catholic Church in Belarus for their faith and moral integrity. Despite illness and pressure from the KGB, he remains steadfast and refuses to betray his conscience or his faith.

His words — > “I cannot betray God” — have become a symbol of spiritual strength and resistance to coercion.

International solidarity and public attention are essential to protect his life, health, and freedom.
Support for Fr. Henryk Okolotovich is support for the right to faith, human dignity, and truth in Belarus.

About The Author

Darko Kalinowski

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