UGCC Head: This Is a Conflict between the Government and the Ukrainian People, Not the Opposition

Today Ukrainians have little trust in law enforcement officials. But it did not start now, but when the events in Vradiyivka unfolded and as a result of other cases where those who were supposed to protect the people abused them, Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the UGCC said on Channel 5.

“I think the next step of the renewed government will be to restructure law enforcement.  Because currently the people feel disgust toward the current ranks,” he said. The head of the church also said that the current government does not understand that now it is not about the dissatisfaction of a small group of “radicals,” and not a conflict between the government and the opposition, but in fact a conflict between the government and the Ukrainian people. “Millions of people cannot be called extremists. Millions of people are citizens of Ukraine, who must be respected and heard,” said the patriarch.

He said the clergy now has a unique opportunity to listen to the hearts of the people, their sorrows, their tears: “We know the hearts of our people, who are wise, patient, and respect their dignity.”

“What is happening today is no longer just EuroMaidan, but a revolution of dignity in all spaces of independent Ukraine. And as long as those (the government or the opposition) who want to represent the people in government structures or in political parties do not respect their dignity, Ukrainians will never have faith in them,” said the head of the UGCC, the UGCC Information Department informs.