Pilgrims of the UOC-KP Encounter Obstacles in Reaching Kyiv to Celebrate Baptism of Kyivan Rus

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP) reports numerous incidents of attempts to prevent pilgrims from reaching the capital to celebrate the Baptism of Kyivan Rus. According to the report, the incidents are primarily from the western regions of Ukraine.

In particular, drivers are pressured to refuse to transport groups of pilgrims. The drivers are receiving threats to have their licenses canceled for their services and of other "trouble." Therefore, the drivers are refusing at a mass scale to make the previously agreed trips," reads the report of the pres service of UOC-KP.

According to the UOC-KP, local officials also contribute to the obstruction by "not recommending" the clergy of the UOC-KP to come to Kyiv on July 28.

"There are also indications coming about obstacles to the buses directly on the highway: they are stopped and prevented from moving ahead under farfetched pretext," reads the report.

The UOC-KP is concerned by the systematic character of these actions. Its head Patriarch Filaret approached the state authorities for an explanation.  "In response, it was stated that instructions to put obstacles for transporting the pilgrims to participate in the Day of Baptism of Kyivan Rus were not made. However, reports about obstacles continue to come," says the report.