Antonin Dognal Refused Visa Extension to Stay in Ukraine

The head of the religious group Pidhirtsi Fathers, Antonin (Ilia) Dognal, who is a citizen of the Czech Republic, has been refused extension of visa to stay in Ukraine, reported the “Catholic Observer” with reference to non-official sources.

Dognal has already stated that he would not fulfill the decision and that he would continue his activity despite the illegal status in Ukraine. The adherents of the group organized a picket for several days in front of the Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Lviv Oblast as they demanded to cancel the decision and let their leader stay in Ukraine.

According to the report, the statement of Dognal and “the aggressive public actions of his supporters allow one to assume that some pressure may possibly be put on the officials who made the decision.”