Ex-head of Rivne Regional Council about UOC believers: Either we or they
The former head of the Rivne Regional Council Serhiy Kondrachuk, commenting on the criminal proceedings that were opened against him by the Rivne City Court because of persecution of UOC believers, said that in order to conduct a proper questioning, an investigator would need half a day. He said this in the programme "New Rules" on the "Rivne 1" TV channel.
A criminal case against Kondrachuk was opened under three articles, including inciting interfaith hatred and insulting honour and dignity.
"The statement against me was signed by the entire leadership of the UOC in the Rivne Region, including Archbishop Pimen, all the deaneries, all the abbots of the monasteries," Kondrachuk said.
Also, the former head of the Rivne Regional Council noted that a preliminary questioning had already been conducted in the criminal case, but the full meeting at which Kondrachuk is to give all the evidence was postponed.
"I take it calmly. Perhaps this structure (the UOC – Ed.) decided that the best defence is an attack, but I have already said that in this battle, either we or they," the former official resumed.
During a regular session of the Rivne Regional Council, the deputies dismissed its chairman who had tried several times to ban the activities of the UOC in the region. According to Kondrachuk's statement, he lost his post because "by his attempts to ban the UOC, he is splitting society".
Read also
Priests and laity of Rivne Eparchy donate blood for children with cancer
In Rivne, the UOC clergy and laity have donated blood for children undergoing treatment for cancer.
Kyiv seminary students meet with People’s Artist Larisa Kadochnikova
Students of Kyiv’s theological schools spoke with the legend of Ukrainian cinema, who shared her memories of filming "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors".
Bancheny Monastery reports provocation
The UOC monastery in Bancheny has reported a provocation by unidentified individuals.
Romanian Church to hold joint prayer for peace in Ukraine
On the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Ukraine, special prayers for an end to the hostility will be offered in all churches of the Romanian Patriarchate, both in the country and abroad.
Armenian bishops call on authorities to stop Church persecution
At a meeting in Austria, hierarchs of the Armenian Apostolic Church reaffirmed their faithfulness to Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians and called on the authorities to stop the persecution of the clergy.
Italian media: Ukrainian authorities persecute the country’s largest confession
The Italian outlet L’Identità reported on mass searches, the arrests of clergy, and the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which it describes as the largest Church in Ukraine.