Expert: Increased negativity around the All-Ukrainian Cross procession is favourable to "war party"

The head of the analytical center "Third Sector", political analyst Andrei Zolotarev, spoke out in an extremely negative way on the exacerbation of the negative reaction of part of the Ukrainian society to the All-Ukrainian Cross procession.    

"This is a game of Ukrainian "party of war," – says Mikhail Zolotarev. – The Ukrainian politicum is quite extensive, but one can clearly identify those groups, especially close to the government, who are working on making conflicts. This allows them to take political and other dividends. The information field of the last 2 months fixes a clear aggravation of confrontation with the only canonical Orthodox structures in the country – the UOC. This feeding the information field with fake stories that the Cross procession is the "hand of the Kremlin", "the machinations of the FSB," etc. It's emerged not out of nowhere."      

The political expert believes that a lot of present politicians can hardly imagine the consequences of deliberately fueled confrontation.     

"It's not about the procession as such, but about a deliberately stirred atmosphere of hatred, – the expert believes. – Calls to "kill Moscow priests" and a discussion on how to do it best – how could it be viewed? Social networks have long been turned into a tool of mass influence. The fact that such stuff appears there is no coincidence. Unfortunately, all sides regardless of party membership and ideological views will have "to pay the bills." Religious confrontation drives a wedge in the society and can have dire consequences for Ukraine."     

Speaking on how the authorities should act in a similar situation, Mikhail Zolotarev spoke of the need to strictly follow the letter of the law.    

"Participants of the Cross procession does not violate the law, and there can be no claims to them, – the expert believes. – If in our country LGBT marches are allowed, why then not to guarantee the constitutional rights of other citizens? I would like to note that the Ukrainian extreme right forces always work to strengthen what they fight with in words. Therefore, the time of stirred hysteria may result in very real excesses. Ukraine definitely won’t benefit from that."

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