Moscow – Protestants in the Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union are facing mounting pressure from their Muslim governments. This was reported at a conference of the Euro-Asian Federation of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, held in Moscow from 22 to 24 April. The governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan increasingly embrace the political models of Iran and Saudi Arabia. Genrikh Foth, President of the Baptist Union in Kyrgyzstan, stated: ‘Mosques are sprouting like mushrooms.’ In his country, 150 Protestant chapels are confronted with an increasing number of mosques – presently approximately 3.000. ‘We feel the pressure of Muslims from all corners,’ he reported. Baptist leaders at least from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are no longer permitted foreign travel. Private living quarters of Christians are under government surveillance in hopes of preventing illegal gatherings. ‘It’s much worse than during Soviet times,’ one conference participant complained. The import of Christian literature has become nearly impossible. Books are confiscated at the border; even computer hard drives and electronic data instruments are being erased during border checks. Political pressure in Uzbekistan has led to a closing of the ranks between the registered and the non-registered Baptist unions. Now, both groups are equally repressed. Yet Baptists are committed to remaining strong in the face of increasing pressure. Foth stated that they are committed to evangelising ‘even more than before.’

Baptists are not particularly optimistic following the political upheaval in Kyrgyzstan. After bloody riots, President Kurmanbek Bakiyevwas was overthrown on 7. April. The Baptists reported in Moscow that the new administration’s ruler, Roza Otunbayeva, has not yet expressed a clear concept for governing. ‘The old regime’s leaders only wanted to line their own pockets.’ There is ‘no clear indication yet that the new government will be doing anything differently.’

The small Euro-Asian Federation emerged from the massive All-Union Council of Evangelical Christians-Baptists following the break-up of the Soviet Union. Its President is Vyacheslav Nesturuk (Kiev/Ukraine). The Euro-Asian Federation is significant in terms of church politics because only two of the five Central-Asian Baptist unions belong to the European Baptist Federation (EBF). The registered Baptist unions in these five countries are home to roughly 18.000 believers; an additional 4.000 Baptists serve outside of registered unions.