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Belarusian Priest Charged With High Treason Released From Detention


Uladzislau Lazar in an undated photo
Uladzislau Lazar in an undated photo
MINSK -- A Catholic priest in Belarus who has been charged with high treason has been released from pretrial detention.

A Belarusian State Security Committee spokesman, Artur Strekh, told RFE/RL on December 4 that Uladzislau Lazar has been released on condition that he not leave Minsk while investigations are continuing.

Lazar was arrested in July for allegedly making a payment to a Belarusian citizen suspected of collaborating with foreign secret services.

In July, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka told journalists that "we have arrested a traitor recently, who served in our special services and was linked with foreign countries via representatives of the Catholic Church here."

No more details on the priest's case have been made public.
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