The Evangelical Alliance UK has called upon the Eastern European government to immediately halt its repression on the Church. The appeal has come after the first anniversary of the police crackdown on Christians in Bulgaria.

On the 21st June 2004, the Bulgarian police force began a huge operation and invaded 170 churches and monasteries, violently and forcefully removing priests from their places of worship.

The extreme move came in response to the failure of the Christian leaders in the country to recognise Patriarch Maxim, whom it has been claimed has been installed by the Bulgarian Communist Party.

The crackdowns in 2004 have instigated a rally to commence this week in Sofia, and the Evangelical Alliance UK Head of Public Affairs, Dr Don Horrocks said, "The situation in Bulgaria is appalling. The authorities have no legal grounds to formally recognise Maxim as a Patriarch but they do so for their own ends. Repression of any kind must be firmly rejected; it has already led to the loss of life. The actions of the Bulgarian Government highlight the need for the European courts to step in and deal with this situation as soon as possible."

Campaigners for a peaceful resolution in the country have now focussed their efforts on the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Currently the priests that were banned from their churches are still living lives of struggle, yet they have been fulfilling their spiritual duties to their congregations out of the church buildings. Often this means they have to cope with harsh climates and conditions, but they have refused to let the persecutions they face overcome them.

The Evangelical Alliance UK now is backing them fully in a call for the persecutions and repressions to stop.