Chernivtsi radio market entrepreneurs report pressure from OCU religious community

A conflict has erupted in Chernivtsi between entrepreneurs of the “Cheremosh” radio market and the  community of the OCU, on whose land the market is located. The entrepreneurs have complained about pressure from the Church and appealed to the city council for permission to continue operating until the end of the war. This was reported by the local outlet Shpalta.

The issue was raised during a session of the Chernivtsi City Council on May 29. One of the market workers, speaking on behalf of the entrepreneurs, emphasized that the market has been operating since 2003, with vendors paying taxes, assisting volunteers and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and some even serving in the military.

According to the speaker, the situation has recently escalated:

“A few days ago, there was a provocation from the church community. They tried to dismantle containers of vendors who are currently not working. We called the police; they called the military enlistment office and the police as well. They attempted to dismantle three containers. Our team supports the National Guard, while the church uses the National Guard to dismantle the market,” said the market representative.

He also noted that for many years, the religious community owning the land had agreements with the city authorities allowing the market to operate, and that the lease was regularly extended. However, in 2023, the lease was not renewed. The authorities cited plans to widen the street — which the entrepreneurs agreed to and complied with — but the pressure from the church community continued.

“The resolution of our issue has reached a dead end. We ask to be allowed to continue working until the end of the war, and in the meantime, we will look for an alternative location,” the representative added.

The dismantling of the radio market had already been discussed in 2024, when Mayor Roman Klichuk stated that vendors must vacate the area by September 1, 2024. However, the pavilions remained in place.

During the May 2025 council session, Klichuk admitted that the situation is complicated by internal issues within the OCU:

“The land belongs to the Church. There are complications in their hierarchy. Some priests oppose the market, others support it. This matter is under the supervision of both the Bukovyna Diocese and Metropolitan Epiphaniy personally. The OCU leadership believes that there should be a lawn and flowers near the church — definitely not a radio market,” the mayor said.

Earlier, it was reported that on May 30, 2025, a violent seizure of the Church of St. Elias of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church took place in the village of Zabolottia, Chernivtsi region. According to eyewitnesses, a group of OCU representatives — including the controversial «chaplain» Roman Hryshchuk and other clergy and activists — stormed the church grounds with the support of law enforcement and took it by force.