The religious procession organized by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) is now over, and a group of the participants in the event is now being bused home, Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has said.
“The religious procession is over. Buses with participants in today’s public prayer are for the most part on their way back home. Some people are still attending the service in [Kyiv-Pechersk] Lavra,” Avakov wrote on Facebook on July 27 evening.
Preventive measures and enhanced security let avoid acts of provocation and clashes, the minister wrote, but six people were detained. “A small group of six misfits who attempted to unfold a banner saying “Donbas is the Russian World!” to impose their kindness on residents of Kyiv are now enjoying their time at a police station. Investigators are interested in their identity and eager to hear their theories. They had to miss the public prayer,” Avakov added.
What is more, he said, knives were seized from some participants in the event, however, they were returned to the owners. “Dozen penknives seized at metal detectors were given back to the owners before they got to buses heading home,” he said.
“Three patriots who attempted to stop the religious event with abrupt gestures were asked not to give a chance to provocation by the anti-Ukrainian forces, and after a chat, the guys went home,” he added.
