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The Russian Orthodox Church called the seizure of the church in Cherkassy a gross violation of the rights of believers
"The violent seizure of the Cherkasy Cathedral is a serious violation of the rights of believers and was committed not only with the obvious connivance, but also with the direct instigation of the authorities," TASS quotes the priest as saying.
The patriarch's advisers were particularly outraged by the fact that Cherkassy Mayor Anatoly Bondarenko regarded the incident as a "voluntary conversion to faith." The mayor advised the villagers to come "to pray" and support what was happening. The police did nothing. The beatings and shootings took place with tacit consent.
"Thus, all citizens of Ukraine who adhere to the canonical church system and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are clearly explained what future awaits them if they do not "voluntarily" join the schismatic OCU. The cathedral was seized in Cherkassy," the archpriest concluded.