UOC believers in Cherkasy region demand release of priest detained by TCC

In the town of Smela, Cherkasy Region, parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church protested at the building of the local TCC (territorial recruitment center), demanding the release of their rector. They claim that the priest has been detained by the military recruitment center and is being illegally held despite his health problems.

According to the source, the incident concerns the rector of the Church of New Martyrs of Cherkasy UOC, Father Oleksiy Lukash. It is alleged that TCC officers detained him on November 7. Parishioners emphasize that the clergyman continues to be held, ignoring the conclusion of the military medical commission (VMC), according to which he is recognized as restricted fitness for service. It is also reported that Father Alexei suffers from hypertension.

The assembled believers demand from the authorities the immediate release of the priest and compliance with the law. «We ask to release our priest and act within the law!» — declared the protesters. Orthodox Christians call for maximum dissemination of information about the incident to attract public attention to the situation.

Earlier, the head of the international human rights company «Amsterdam & Partners LLP» Robert Amsterdam, representing the legal interests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, called «religious repression» cases of forced mobilization of the UOC clergy «religious repression«. Amsterdam said that such situations are impossible in a truly democratic society.