Court rules that UOC cleric from Khmelnitsky did not violate quarantine

The rector of the Holy Dormition Church was accused of violating the quarantine, but the court did not receive evidence of this and closed the case. Photo: ua.news

The rector of the Holy Dormition Church of the UOC won the trial in the Khmelnitsky City Court of the Khmelnitsky region, reports the “TV 7+” online edition.

On April 5, 2020, law enforcement officers made a protocol to the rector of the Holy Dormition Church of Khmelnitsky, according to which more than 10 people were supposedly present in the church during the service.

However, the court determined that there was insufficient evidence of a quarantine violation by the cleric of the UOC.

The clergyman himself said that he really performed the service, but it was held in compliance with all quarantine requirements, and there were no more than 10 people indoors during the service. Several more parishioners were in the courtyard of the temple, for them the service was broadcast through a loudspeaker.

The lawyer confirmed the words of the rector of the temple with the help of a video from a surveillance camera, which shows that there are four believers in the church. The distance between them corresponds to sanitary and epidemiological standards, which proves that the rules for staying in public places are not violated.

On May 4, 2020, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal announced the extension of quarantine until May 22. However, some restrictions will be eased as early as May 11.

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