Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has said they decided to stop the religious procession organized by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate which moves along the Zhytomyr highway in order to avoid provocations.
“We have decided to stop the advance of the marchers by foot to avoid casualties among the believers and additional provocations … With all due respect to the church … security is the highest priority,” he said at a briefing on July 26.
The minister also pointed out that there is an agreement with Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate Metropolitan Onufriy that the believers will now continue their procession on buses.
