Priests of Kyivan Patriarchate Ask Liquidators of Chornobyl Disaster Not To Resort to Self-Immolation
Priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate will conduct a prayer meeting in the tent camp of the liquidators of Chornobyl disaster who are holding a protest action in front of the building of the Department of Pension Fund in Donetsk. So reported Fr. Ihnatii of UOC-KP to Ostriv.
“I have come here simply to pray for these people. A small prayer meeting will be conducted to give them a blessing for defending their rights. Our authorities commit sins of infringing the rights of the most unprotected strata,” said the priest.
He noted that the priests intend to pray in order that the “Lord should urge the officials, Cabinet of Ministers, President to meet the requests of the people and ensure social protection.”
In answer to the question if he knows that some protesters are ready to burn themselves, Fr. Ihnatii responded: “There were incidents in the history of the 20th century when people set themselves on fire as a sign of protest against the godless regime. The people were not condemned by the Church and were national heroes of their peoples.” However, he stressed that he will ask the liquidators not to resort to such extreme measures.
“We hope that the authorities will take a constructive approach to this,” added he.
The liquidators of the Chornobyl disaster have been on hunger strike in Donetsk since 15 November in front of the Department of Pension Fund demanding the payment of pensions to which they are entitled according to the law in full and a meeting with Premier Azarov.
On 23 November, at night, the Donetsk Circuit Administrative Court satisfied a claim of the Donetsk City Administration with regard to prohibition of the hunger strike of the liquidators due to a possibility of a terrorist act. However, the liquidators refused to leave and 41 of them participate in the action as of today. So reported Unian.
