Halya Coynash: Pressure on Ukrainian Orthodox Church in occupied Crimea intensifies
The Sevastopol Court of Appeal under Russian occupation has imposed a steep fine (half a million roubles) on the Crimean Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the Kyiv Patriarchate and upheld the Church's eviction from the Cathedral of Vladimir and Olga in Simferopol. The Church has been under intense pressure since Russia first invaded and annexed Crimea, and the fact that the court on June 14 upheld the original ruling from January this year (ordering them to vacate 112 metres on the ground floor of the Cathedral) was unfortunately no surprise. Archbishop Kliment of Crimea and Simferopol says that they are now awaiting the court bailiffs.