Coordination Council of power structures ensures order during Cross Procession – 2016

July 20, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine decided to create a coordination council, which would monitor security during the All-Ukrainian Cross Procession for peace in Ukraine, as reported by the Information and Education Department of the UOC.

The coordination council will consist of representatives of law enforcement bodies: the Ministry of Internal Affairs, police, the National Guard, the Service of Security of Ukraine, the Prosecutor's Office, as well as the UOC, social and patriotic organizations.

According to the head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasily Gritsak, law enforcement agencies have developed a consolidated position for the measures to ensure the safety of the Cross Procession. He noted that "there is no claim to the believers. We respect their choice." At the same time, Vasily Gritsak said that provocations during the Cross Procession can be used by the forces that seek to further destabilize the situation in Ukraine. "I look forward to understanding of the patriotic forces and their support, as well as to the consolidated position," he noted.

One of the representatives of the national-patriotic movements Taras Matsiuk, in particular, noted that "no one is advantageous to have some kind of provocation, at least those who live on the territory of Ukraine and consider themselves patriots. Among the believers who attend the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate there are many Ukrainian patriots. I speak from my personal experience. A lot of men who attend the Church defend the integrity of our country in the east of Ukraine," he said and urged all the present to cooperation and mutual assistance.

The head of the National Police of Ukraine Khatia Dekanoidze assured that the task of all law enforcement is to ensure the safety of participants of the Cross Procession. "The situation is quite unstable, and we do not exclude the possibility for someone to use this situation for provocation. We must understand that every situation can be used by our enemies. I want to ask everyone to be responsible so that the public and the clergy will not allow provocations in our capital," said Khatia Dekanoidze. 

Earlier, the chairman of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasily said that Ukraine's believers have an indisputable right to freedom of religion and expression of their belief in the Cross Procession.

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