Procession barred from Kyiv after threats
July 26, 2016
The Ukrainian Interior Ministry ordered the police to stop the controversial procession from entering Kyiv on Tuesday. The decision was motivated by security concerns, said Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.
"Mock mines and actual live grenades planted along the planned route give us no reason to doubt that the risk of threats and provocations is real," Avakov said.
"Security of the citizens is more important than religious rites."
The religious event marks the adoption of Christianity in the early Slavic state Kievan Rus during the 10th century. Both Russia and Ukraine are dominantly Eastern Orthodox, but the Ukrainian believers are divided between rival denominations. The controversial march is organized by the Ukrainian branch of the Russian church, which is subordinate to the Moscow patriarch.
Several weeks ago, thousands of worshipers from the east and the west headed toward the planned meeting point in Kyiv on foot carrying icons and crosses. The move, allegedly aimed to promote peace, sparked harsh criticism from Ukrainian nationalists who believe it to be a Kremlin-backed provocation.
'Real threat'
On Monday, right-wingers blocked some of the marchers from entering Kyiv, pelting them with eggs and calling them "agents of Moscow." The protesters also carried a banner saying: "Moscow patriarchate = spiritual occupiers" (top photo). Other far-right organizations threatened to attack the event if the marchers entered Kyiv.
On Tuesday, authorities announced they found several suspicious objects in the Kyiv region, including explosive and smoke grenades.
Some of the material was discovered "3 to 5 meters (yards)" from the curb, presenting a 'real threat' to the participants, said Anton Gerashenko from the Interior Ministry.
"Demining experts are working at the scene, using a demining robot," he added.
Ukrainian police were investigating the incident.
The Russian Interfax agency reported later on Tuesday that the worshipers were continuing their march towards the city despite the ban.