UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission Investigates Violent Convent Seizure in Cherkasy, Ukraine

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Information and Education Department of UOC – OCP News Service – 15/12/2023

Kyiv – Ukraine: At the invitation of Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkasy and Kaniv, who holds the status of a human rights defender cooperating with the UN, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine visited the city of Cherkasy. The reason for the visit of the UN Monitoring Mission’s delegation was the bloody seizure of a convent in Cherkasy by militants in camouflage, in favor of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine on November 20, 2023, the video footage of which has spread worldwide. This information is reported by the Information and Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with reference to the press service of the Cherkasy Diocese.

During their work in Cherkasy, human rights advocates thoroughly communicated with the victims, recording their testimonies, statements, and medical documents regarding their injuries. Several victims were still in hospitals after maxillofacial surgeries at the time of the Mission’s visit. Many of the injured and wounded believers testified on the condition of anonymity because, given the inaction of law enforcement agencies when the rights of believers are violated, they cannot feel safe today, especially after threats to their lives and health from the attackers on the monastery.

The officials of the Mission were provided with a complete documentary base of evidence of the crime of violence against UOC believers, as well as video recordings of the atrocities, documents on the opening of criminal cases, evidence of attempts by official bodies to nullify criminal consequences for the perpetrators of this crime, etc.

Source:

OCP News Service