Konotop mayor bans UOC in city because of 'threat to national security'
"Svoboda" member Artem Semenikhin believes that his order to ban the UOC in Konotop will serve to "consolidate society".
Konotop mayor Artem Semenikhin, who represents the nationalist party VO Svoboda, has issued an order banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the city, which, in his opinion, "threatens national security". Order No. 124-OD of 3 May 2022 was published by Semenikhin on his Facebook page.
In it, the official claims that the ban on the UOC was adopted in order to "consolidate society" and "prevent the Konotop community from splitting on religious grounds". The "Svoboda" member retained control over the implementation of the order.
In April 2020, Artem Semenikhin ordered to dig up the roads around the UOC churches, cut off their electricity and water, and terminate their rental contracts.
As reported, Obukhiv district authorities called for banning the UOC.
