Andrzej Maryanovich Yukhnevich

Father Andrzej Yukhnevich, rector of the Roman Catholic parish in Shumilino, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, has not been released from the Vitebsk temporary detention center after serving 45 days in custody . The only parcels he is allowed to receive are medications. Father Andrzej Yukhnevich has already been convicted at least four times in a row. The first three were likely given the maximum sentence of 15 days, and the fourth time, the court sentenced him to a further 10-day arrest.

Thus, the rector in Shumilino spent more than 45 days behind bars —the longest of any Roman Catholic or Greek Catholic priest sentenced to administrative arrest in Belarus. Afterward, a criminal case was opened against the priest.

As Christian Vizier learned in the fall of 2024, pressure continues to be placed on the priest in Pretrial Detention Center No. 2, where he has been held since his arrest on May 8, 2024. The priest was only allowed to shower for the first time after two months of detention. He faces charges related to crimes against the sexual integrity of minors.

On April 30, 2025, Father Andrzej was sentenced in Shumilino. Believers learned that the priest had been sentenced to 13 years in prison , although the prosecution had sought a 15-year sentence. The trial was presided over by Inna Grabovskaya, chairperson of the Shumilino District Court.

According to information received by believers, the priest's case concerns events that occurred approximately 10 years ago. During one of his outings to Shumilino for services, he walked down the street with a local girl—an incident that the KGB turned into a criminal case. The girl never filed any complaints against the priest with the curia, either then or later. Under duress, she testified about harassment and attempted rape; she did not appear in court "for safety reasons." The verdict was handed down solely on the basis of her statement—without witnesses, attesting witnesses, or medical reports. As believers learned, the priest completely denied the accusations and attempted to prove his innocence, appearing in good spirits in court. Meanwhile, the diocese allegedly never received any complaints against Father Andrzej.

Because of his assigned "low status" in the colony, he was effectively isolated.

In November 2025, he was pardoned after a visit to Belarus by Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, as a special envoy of Pope Leo XIV.