Imprisoned Pastor Disturbing News

Dear Precious Partners in the Lord,

On behalf of our brothers and sisters in Azerbaijan, I want to thank you again for continuing to remember imprisoned Pastor Zaur Balaev and his family in prayer. I have received a troubling update on his situation, and I wanted to take this opportunity to fill you in and to ask for even more sustained prayer on Zaur’s behalf.

Disturbing News Reports

The Forum 18 News Service and other sources report that officials at the prison where Zaur Balaev is being held have been demanding a shockingly high level of “payments” from the pastor’s family and friends. Although the officials are denying it, these bribes are allegedly being demanded before Pastor Balaev is given food or allowed to meet with his family.

These serious allegations have been made since Pastor Balaev lodged a second appeal of his case to the Azerbaijan Supreme Court. The frail pastor had been convicted of resisting arrest and attacking five police officers — charges that are completely false according to the leadership of the Azerbaijan Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists. A lower court rejected his first appeal on October 3. UECB president Ilya Zenchenko says that if the second appeal fails, Pastor Balaev’s only option is to serve two-thirds of his two-year sentence and then apply for early release. Appeals to the European Court of Human Rights are also possible.

According to Pastor Zenchenko, even more disturbing are reports that police in the town of Neftechala have threatened another Baptist pastor with the same fate as Zaur Balaev. Forum 18 reports, not surprisingly, that Azerbaijani officials deny that any bribery is taking place. They are also insisting — despite all evidence to the contrary — that there are no prisoners of conscience in Azerbaijan and that no Baptists or other religious confessions are persecuted for their faith.

Severe Prison Conditions

Pastor Zenchenko says that the conditions endured at the prisons are terrible. “Although the internal regime is not supposed to be harsh, those sentenced are forced to prepare their own food, while all services — including hot water — the possibility to bathe and a place to wash clothes, all need to be paid for. Even being able to pass something on or have a meeting with a prisoner costs considerable sums of money. This makes people angry.” In addition, Zardusht Alizade of the Helsinki Citizen’s Committee charges that the prison system is corrupt and that prisoners unable to raise money for bribes will only get the bare minimum of poor food to keep them from dying of hunger.

Please Continue to Intercede in Prayer

Since Pastor Balaev was transferred to a prison colony in Darnagyul, church members have been able to supply him with warm clothes, a blanket, new glasses and food. However, he is in poor health and that remains a concern of his family and the church. Please continue to pray that God will protect and sustain Zaur during this severe trial. Pray that God will protect and sustain this dear pastor’s family and persecuted congregation. And finally, please join us in praying that God will change the hearts of Azerbaijani officials, allowing the churches to worship freely and to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to their lost and hurting people. God’s Word assures us that the hearts of government leaders . . . are like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes (Proverbs 21:1). And as with the Apostle Paul, Pastor Balaev’s circumstances might well turn . . . out for the greater progress of the Gospel (Philippians 1:12).

Thank you for praying, and be assured that I will pass on any new news as soon as I have it.

For our Savior,

Bob Provost
President, Slavic Gospel Association