Lawyer: Aggressive group holds illegal rally at Lavra for a fortnight
Participants of an illegal action on the territory of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Photo: a screenshot of UOJ video
Contrary to the law "On the legal regime of martial law", which prohibits mass gatherings and actions during wartime, a group of aggressive people has been holding a rally on the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra for a fortnight, said Lavra's lawyer, Archpriest Nikita Chekman.
"A group of aggressively-minded persons has been trying to interfere in the last two weeks to hold services, accompanying their actions with loud slogans, songs and dances on the territory of the shrine," the lawyer said. “We believe that there is a rally, the purpose of which is blatant aggression towards the clergy and believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. We note that in connection with the introduction of martial law in Ukraine, peaceful assemblies, rallies, marches, demonstrations and other public events are prohibited.”
The archpriest has published the response of the Kyiv City Military Administration to his lawyer's enquiries regarding the established restrictions on holding mass rallies and whether the city authorities were warned about the rally at the Lavra by its organizers. The response said that neither the KCMA nor the Kyiv City Council "received any appeals or reports about holding rallies or any other events on the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Holy Dormition Lavra. Accordingly, the lawyer stressed, the authorities did not give any permission for mass actions at the monastery.
As reported, radicals are calling on their supporters to "cleanse the Lavra of the Russian world" on Good Thursday.
Read also
Dumenko "blesses" SBU facility for forensic examination
The head of the OCU noted the "special role" of the Institute of Special Technology and Forensic Expertise of the SBU.
ROC head: Attempts to impose special powers of Pat. Bartholomew are sinful
Patriarch Kirill stated that the doctrine of special powers of the Patriarch of Constantinople is being imposed from outside.
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces LGBT festival near Sodom and Gomorrah
Israeli authorities are promoting a large-scale gay event at the Dead Sea on social media, which has caused criticism and bewilderment among Christians.
In Bila Tserkva, man nearly killed for greeting "Christ is risen!"
Two non-Orthodox individuals aged 19 and 23 tracked down a 35-year-old Orthodox Christian after an Easter greeting, knocked him down and inflicted several knife wounds to his abdomen and neck.
In Uganda, Islamists kill Protestant pastor after sermon
In Uganda, a Protestant church pastor who preached among Muslims was stabbed to death after a sermon.
Spanish court rules Jehovah’s Witnesses may be called a “destructive sect”
A court in Spain has upheld the right of critics of Jehovah’s Witnesses to speak openly about the group’s alleged harmfulness and danger to society.