Opposition block demands to ensure the safety of participants in Cross Procession – 2016

The pilgrims participating in the Cross Procession-2016 stand for peace and united Ukraine, and law enforcement officers are required to ensure their safety. This was said in his speech in the Parliament by the co-chairman of the Opposition block faction, people’s deputy of Ukraine Alexander Vilkul, reports a UOJ correspondent.

"In difficult periods for our land the Orthodox Church has always had a greater say in the restoration of peace and integration of the country. It will be so now, as well," said Alexander Vilkul.

He stressed that the statements of the authorities that the participants of the Procession can be armed is nothing but a cheap insinuation.

"The Orthodox believers have a unique weapon – a prayer. And the right to free peaceful assembly and religious rights are guaranteed by Articles 39 and 35 of the Ukrainian Constitution. We regard the provocative statements by the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Andrei Parubiy and the advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs Zoryan Shkiryak of the Cross Procession to be solely aimed at the disintegration of the Ukrainian society and Ukraine," – said A.Vilkul.

He added that the Opposition block also appealed to the leadership of the country and law enforcement agencies with a demand to protect people from acts of provocation on behalf of radicals. "People are walking under the scorching sun and the pouring rain. They are walking, praying for peace, overcoming difficulties and themselves. All of Ukraine should bow to Orthodox believers who are making a real spiritual feat of our time. In the last few months high security measures have been taken during a number of events in Ukraine. Therefore, law enforcement bodies must ensure the security of the Cross Procession, as well," – said the politician.

The deputy also stressed out that " before voicing fantastic suspicions, the advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs, must investigate the facts of seizure of 39 churches for the last two years, carried out with the support of the government and the armed militants, as well as the facts of pressure on members of the Church. All this is indicated in the report of the OSCE mission in Ukraine."

"The Cross Procession is the highest act of unification of our Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which in no way prevent other denominations to conduct their activities, but won’t give in to intimidate. I think that a huge number of people will join the Cross Procession in Kiev on July 27 to say that we are for peace, we are for the unity of the country," he concluded.

Recall, on July 3 the All-Ukrainian Cross Procession of peace, love and prayer for Ukraine started from the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra, and on 9 July the prayerful procession set off from the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra to meet in Kiev on July 27.

Read also