Lukashenko welcomes Franklin Graham at Minsk prayer gatheringprayer gathering
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko met US evangelist Franklin Graham in Minsk on May 15 before a Protestant prayer meeting that was billed as historic by organizers.
The visit came as Lukashenko sought warmer ties with Washington and highlighted Belarus’s message of religious coexistence, making the event a small but notable sign of political opening.
Belarusian Leadership
Lukashenko presented the meeting as proof that Belarus remains open to different faiths and ready for dialogue with outside figures. He also used the visit to send friendly signals to President Donald Trump and suggest that relations with the United States could improve.
Franklin Graham and Supporters
Graham’s appearance centered on a large prayer gathering and a public expression of religious fellowship in Minsk. Supporters likely see the event as a rare chance to combine faith outreach with a softer diplomatic atmosphere in Belarus.
- Belarus borders both the European Union and Russia, making its politics unusually sensitive.
- Minsk is one of Eastern Europe’s major capitals and was heavily reshaped by Soviet-era planning.
- The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has organized mass Christian events on several continents.
