OCU is preparing a statement to the ECHR due to the disruption of divine services in a Crimean church

"What has happened over the past week is blatant lawlessness and blatant immorality... When during the service they break into the church, enter the altar, expel all people to the street – this already borders on some kind of satanic madness," he was indignant.

Metropolitan Klyment reminded that representatives of the Department for combating extremism came to the rector of the church and drew up an act. The priest was charged with "illegally engaging in missionary activities."

"What has happened over the past week is outrageous lawlessness and outrageous immorality... When during the service they break into the church, enter the altar, expel all people to the street ‒ this already borders on some kind of satanic madness. Representatives of the Department for combating extremism came and drew up an act. The priest was charged with "illegally engaging in missionary activities." First, the territory they broke into is private: it is a house divided into two parts: a priest lives in one part, in the other part he prays. In fact, they broke into a private house without any permits. It's the same as if someone broke into someone's apartment and started telling them what to do and how to do it in the morning. The next day, the court called, and the bailiffs warned that there would be a trial on the 17th. A priest and monk to be prosecuted for praying at home! Isn't that madness? Lawyers make certain statements about these facts to the European Court of Human Rights," he said.

Earlier, the representative of the Regional Council of Ukrainians of Crimea, editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Krymskaya Svitlitsa" Andriy Shchekun reported that Russian security forces disrupted a service at the OCU church on the peninsula. After that, Archbishop Damian, rector of the monastery of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in the village of Balky, Bilohirsky District, is summoned to court.

Ombudsman Of Ukraine Lyudmila Denisova reacted to the disruption of the service, condemning the actions of the Russian security forces against representatives of the Crimean Diocese of the OCU.

On August 10, the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol sharted information about opening criminal proceedings against Russian security forces for disrupting the service in the church.

Russian law enforcement agencies, as well as the Kremlin-controlled Crimean authorities, did not comment on the disruption of services in this church.