Moscow, October 14, 2014
The Russian Federation’s president noted that in the Ukraine on the “holiday” of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army – “a nationalist and pro-fascist organization” – was officially celebrated, accompanied by calls for violence against the Russian Orthodox Church representatives.
Vladimir Putin stated that Patriarch Kirill has continuously done his best to prevent the fratricidal conflict, reports Russia Today.
“The main tragedy is the estrangement between the Ukrainian and the Russian peoples. This is the greatest tragedy. And, given all the existent problems, we surely must search for a way to overcome this situation. Beyond a doubt, it must be done in collaboration with the Ukrainian authorities,” said Vladimir Putin at the meeting of the Human Rights Council.
The president has also expressed his indignation that the Ukrainian human rights activists were ignoring the persecution taking place there against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.
“Now – today, yesterday – I learned through the media that there is an official festivity in honor of the Ukrainian Nationalist Organization—the Ukrainian Insurgent Army—this nationalist pro-fascist organization. And this is accompanied by calls for violence against representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate,” said Putin.
As the president stressed, “This is despite the fact that the Patriarch is doing his best to stop the fratricidal conflict.”
“The Church representatives really do very much, but they are being attacked—18 churches have already been taken away,” the Russian president related. “Where are advocates of human rights concerning the right to religious practice and worship? There is utter silence on this—absolutely nothing, as if all this is not happening”.
At the same time, according to V. Putin, “The people are driven away [from the churches], beaten up, suffer indignity and, on top of that, their property is confiscated.”
