During all this time, no official information appeared that the priests were in Rome, and they themselves made no statements, were not seen in public, and rarely made contact. Now it has become clear why.
As the faithful learned, the priests were housed in one of the monasteries in Rome, where they have been all this time and will likely continue to live. The reason why the priests rarely make contact is mundane: they do not have phones or other technical means of communication.
At the same time, they are fully provided for, including necessary medications: they are undergoing medical examinations and recovering after a long period of imprisonment. They pray, participate in holy masses, and miss Belarus. When they will be able to return to their homeland is unknown: there is currently no specifics on this matter, nor on the future fate of the priests in general.
The assumption about a "vow of silence" has also been confirmed. This is indeed the case: in the coming months, no publications about the priests should be expected. In the Vatican, they promised that for at least a year after their release, they would not make any statements, speeches, or engage in any public activity. Who initiated this condition is not precisely known to the faithful.
Valozhyn priest Genrikh Akalatovich was detained in November 2023. Security forces accused him of "treason to the state." On December 30, 2024, the priest was sentenced to 11 years in a penal colony.
In the case of Father Andrzej Yukhnevich from Shumilina, Vitebsk region, he was initially detained under "political" administrative articles, but later accused of crimes related to the sexual inviolability of minors. He was sentenced to 13 years in a penal colony.
Their release became known on November 20.
Afterwards, Lukashenka's press secretary Natalya Eismant reported that they were pardoned at the request of Pope Leo XIV.