A church in the capital, Bishkek, was raided on March 4 by the authorities as part of a series of inspections of religious communities that have taken place this year.
Officials from a number of state agencies, including the secret police and financial police, arrived at the church during a service. The ministers refused them access because they did not have a search warrant. The officials, who claimed to be responding to a complaint against the church, threatened them with a court case and further trouble.
In another case, a Sunday school teacher from Russia was warned about his alleged ‘illegal missionary work’ in the country.
Leaders of various Protestant churches in Bishkek and elsewhere were told to reduce their activity and to stop distributing Christian literature.
