Moscow Patriarchate did not ban mass Easter celebrations in Ukraine only, - expert
This was stated by political expert Andriy Smoliy on the air of "Priamyy (Direct) Channel".
"Unfortunately, they (ROC - ed.) did not ban mass services, in fact, only on the territory of Ukraine. In other words, all other metropolises in the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church outside Ukraine, as they have metropolitans in different countries, in particular in the post-Soviet space, in fact, a ban was imposed everywhere," Smoliy said.
He stressed that no ban was imposed on Easter services of the ROC in Ukraine.
"In fact, it seems that the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine is in opposition to our state, in opposition to our Ukrainian laws, in opposition to common sense. We are well aware that there are some people who really want to go to churches, but now some laws in Ukraine are in effect, now Ukraine is under quarantine.
In this case, while some athlete is fined UAH 17 thousand, while a granny who sells tomatoes or eggs is fined UAH17 thousand, this quarantine and related orders are still being questioned, and these decrees of the authorities somehow have no equal effect for all categories of the population. Why do a huge number of people, including representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate, ignore the quarantine that is currently in Ukraine?" Smoliy adds.
He is confident that the appeals to organize such events and the actual organization of these mass events during the quarantine, in fact, constitute a full criminal case.
"This is a criminal article that provides for up to six years in prison for mass infection of people during the coronavirus epidemic. Therefore, in fact, we saw, in fact, a planned subversive activity on the part of the ROC against Ukraine on Palm Sunday and Easter holidays. It looks like this. Otherwise, it is impossible to justify non-compliance with the laws. And in particular, the fact that despite the coronavirus pandemic, the ROC did not prohibit to hold a service with mass involvement of people at Easter in Ukraine, once again confirms that, in fact, we are dealing with a purposeful hybrid attack by Russia against Ukraine even now, during the coronavirus pandemic," Smoliy concluded.
As reported, Deputy Minister of Health Iryna Mykychak said that the outbreak of the new COVID-19 cases in Ukraine may occur five to ten days after the Easter holidays.
According to the Minister of Health of Ukraine Maxym Stepanov, the celebration of Palm Sunday by Ukrainians in churches caused an outbreak of COVID-19 cases.
