Yanis Smits

Yanis Alfred Smits (Latvian: Jānis Alfreds Šmits; August 9, 1941 – April 23, 2020), commonly known as Bishop Smits, was a Latvian theologian and Baptist pastor. He was persecuted for his political and religious activism against the Soviet rule over Latvia during 1956-1976. His personal story has aroused global interest in the Christian community in his struggle for basic human rights and social justice. He would eventually be elected as Bishop of the Latvian Baptist Union.