Doors broken down, property stolen. Invaders seize OCU Cathedral in Simferopol

This was stated by journalist, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Krymska Svitlytsia Andriy Shchekun, Krym.Realii reports.

"The occupants are breaking down the doors of the church, inventorying and taking/stealing the property of the Ukrainian Church in Crimea. Representatives of the so-called "State Property Fund of the Republic of Crimea of the Russian Federation" together with "bailiffs of the Republic of Crimea of the Russian Federation" are involved in illegal actions," Shchekun said.

He added that the seizure of the church is led by Moscow bailiff Yevhen Novikov. There are no official reports from the Russian authorities about this situation.

In February 2022, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine decided to transfer the property of the Cathedral of the Holy and Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr and Princess Olha in Simferopol to state ownership.

In August 2020, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) appealed to the Russian authorities over the oppression of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in Crimea. The Russian authorities claim that there is no religious harassment in Crimea.

The Crimean Diocese of the OCU is the only religious community on the peninsula that refused to "re-register" at Russia's illegal request, which, in turn, became one of the reasons for the persecution of believers, clergy and their families.