National Corps holds a rally in Zolochiv against UOC community

Participants of the picket at the Zolochiv City Council. Photo: zolochiv.net

On September 7, 2020, representatives of the National Corps and ATO veterans held a “peaceful rally-picket” in front of the Zolochiv City Council demanding to fulfill the promises made earlier to demolish the fence around the house of Priest Maxim Yoenko of the UOC and stop the “illegal construction of the church of the so-called Moscow Patriarchate” in Zolochiv.

The video of the rally, which was accompanied by the traditional chant "Glory to the nation – death to enemies!" was published on the website zolochiv.net.

The rally participants said that despite the decision of the local authorities on July 13 to demolish the “illegal fence” on the private territory of the UOC priest, “nothing happened, and representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate, brazenly disregarding the decision of the city authorities, the position of the townspeople and Ukrainian legislation, continue illegal construction".

“The government demonstrates its own helplessness in front of the representatives of the occupant Church and it is clear that we – the public – will react to this and force the government to take action,” the representatives of the National Corps emphasized.

They stated that the Moscow Patriarchate is “primarily the special services of the Russian Federation”, which “bring a split in society and disrespect the veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war”, and “everyone understands that everything starts with a small chapel and then grows into a huge church complex where ammunition will be found."

Stressing that the local authorities of Zolochiv promised to resolve the issue with the UOC community “without anyone's help”, the nationalists stated that “the church is being built, the fence is still standing,” and demanded that the “impotent” authorities finally start working “ for the good of your nation, otherwise this society and this nation do not need you".

“If after today's action the issue is not settled, we will have to act differently,” the picket participants said and conveyed their demands to the representatives of the Zolochiv City Council, the fulfilment of which the mayor will have to report at the next “veche”.

As reported, the persecution of UOC believers and Priest Maksim Yoenko in Zolochiv began in July 2020. Representatives of the UGCC and local authorities accused Father Maxim of illegally building a church on his private territory. The gate of the cleric of the Lviv Eparchy of the UOC was marred with insults and Nazi symbols, an anti-UOC veche was held near his house, and the priest himself and his family were offered to leave the town.

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