Officials have chosen a new way to put pressure on the UOC, - human rights activist

Requirements of the Kremenets City Council officials to dismantle the dome over a cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church demonstrates the shift of tactics of the Church discrimination, writes on his Facebook page Oleg Denisov, a human rights activist and a member of the public association "Forpost".

According to him, the motivation of the persecutors of UOC believers has undergone some changes. "If in 2015 – the first half of 2016 it was mainly property conflicts when the attackers wanted to grab a temple, now a desire to cause damage is increasingly becoming a motivator," said Oleg Denisov.

"In this case, no one wants to seize a church (or cannot), but at least tries to cause material or property damage in the form of fines or initiating disputes with the authorities," added the human rights activist.

"At the heart of such conflicts in Kremenets is banal hatred on religious grounds, one cannot say here that someone is fighting for the ownership rights or exercise the right to the" free self-identification"– they just obviously want to hurt more painfully. They fail to take over – well, at least they will fine or wreck nerves," concluded the lawyer.

As reported earlier, Kremenets officials demand to dismantle the dome of the UOC cathedral.

Read also

In Ukraine, Trump’s 'spiritual advisor' reassured of religious freedom

Pastor Mark Burns stated that Ukraine, despite the war, is a "beacon of religious freedom."

Lavra brethren congratulate Metropolitan Pavel on 31 years as abbot

The monks of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra have expressed hope that they will soon be able to pray again with their abbot.

Amsterdam: Intrusion into Lavra Caves – a return to Soviet-era persecution

International lawyer Robert Amsterdam has condemned the actions of Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture regarding the inspection of holy relics in the Caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, calling it a violation of religious freedom.

Over 20 EU states condemn Hungary for ban on LGBT propaganda among children

“This restricts the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” diplomats state in a joint declaration.

His Beatitude officiates consecration of Bishop of Rakhiv

At the Church of St. Agapitus in the Lavra, the Primate of the UOC ordained a vicar for the Khust Eparchy.

Met Victor: It is painful to see Lavra's relics turned into test subjects

According to the bishop, there is particular concern over how members of the scientific commission will handle the holy relics.