Police investigate violations in "transition" of UOC community to OCU

Parishioners of the UOC's St. Basil Church in the village of Pidzakharychi. Photo: Facebook page of the community

The National Police of Chernivtsi Region has launched an investigation into possible violations committed during a territorial community meeting in the village of Pidzakharychi, where several dozen people decided to transfer the UOC's St. Basil parish to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). This was reported by the press service of the regional National Police, according to Suspilne.

The police noted that a formal complaint regarding violations during the meeting was filed by a representative of the UOC religious community.

As previously reported by the UOJ, the UOC's St. Basil community had earlier appealed to U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, requesting his influence against the illegal re-registration and subsequent takeover of their church, allegedly planned by OCU representatives. It was noted that on January 26, a fraudulent meeting took place in the village, where individuals not affiliated with the religious community voted for the "transition" of St. Basil parish of the UOC to the OCU. The actual members of the community – 172 people – were not allowed to attend the gathering.

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