On April 9, chairman of the Council of the German Evangelical Lutheran Community of Berdyansk, Artur Kozhevnikov, born in 1966, was detained by the Russians on Primorska Square and taken to the police building at 3 Gretska street, where they located their military commandant's office. According to Bishop Pavlo Schwartz of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine, the situation has not changed today.
There has been no contact with Artur since his arrest. The military commandant does not receive visitors in this case and no information about the fate of the detainee is received from the commandant's office.
Artur Kozhevnikov is one of the participants in the restoration of the community in 1997 and has served as chairman of the Council for more than 20 years, as well as engaged in social and musical service.
The Lutheran community uses the historic building of the Lutheran Church of the Savior, gradually carries out its restoration, regularly conducts divine services, provides social assistance and takes part in the cultural life of the city community. Since the beginning of the acute phase of the war, the community has helped both its members who were in need and those who applied for help, in particular refugees from Mariupol.
"We ask you to pray for the release of Artur Kozhevnikov, and provide all possible assistance so that this happens as soon as possible. We also ask God to preserve his psychological and, especially, physical health, because Artur has heart issues..
" So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him” (Acts 12: 5)," the website of German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine urges.