Unexpected: OCU assures UN that UOC believers stormed Cherkasy cathedral
The OCU presented international human rights organizations with its version of the events surrounding their forcible seizure of a UOC cathedral.
Representatives of the UN Monitoring Mission on Human Rights visited Cherkasy, where on October 17, OCU members carried out a forcible seizure of the Cathedral and diocesan administration of the Cherkasy Eparchy of the UOC. Representatives of Dumenko's structure provided the UN with their version of the events. On their Facebook page, the OCU press service in Cherkasy claimed that it was UOC believers who stormed St. Michael's Cathedral, resulting in dozens of victims being hospitalized.
During a meeting on November 26, they accused UOC believers, led by Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv, of "illegal hooligan and assault actions." According to them, these actions "resulted in dozens of victims."
The OCU representatives asserted that they had "documented evidence disproving the ownership rights of third parties to any premises at the parish's address" and provided certain "documentary evidence" to support this. Furthermore, the OCU alleged that the Metropolitan "fabricated" his status as a human rights defender cooperating with the UN.
According to the OCU, the UN representatives also received information about "massive violations of the rights of OCU parishioners to legally use their churches." They even invited the Monitoring Mission human rights representatives to "attend an event granting parishioners access to their church."
As the UOJ previously reported, UN officials have collected a comprehensive documentary base confirming the violence against UOC believers and the illegal seizure of church property. During their stay in Cherkasy, UN human rights defenders interviewed victims, including Metropolitan Theodosiy, and recorded testimonies, statements, and medical documents.
