Fight between supporters of OCU and UOC-MP in cathedral in Cherkasy: Criminal proceedings have been initiated - police. PHOTOS

Police in Cherkasy region have opened a criminal investigation into hooliganism after a fight broke out between supporters of the OCU and believers of the Russian Orthodox Church near St Michael's Cathedral in Cherkasy.

This was reported by the police press service, Censor.NET informs.

Law enforcement officers said that a group of people committed hooliganism on the territory and inside the church, as a result of which several citizens were injured.

The police immediately arrived at the scene and interviewed the parties to the conflict. Currently, law enforcement officers are identifying witnesses and eyewitnesses to the incident, as well as studying video footage posted on social media.

The police opened a criminal investigation into hooliganism under Part 4 of Article 296 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The maximum possible sentence is 2 to 5 years in prison. The investigation is ongoing. The police registered the incident in the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations.

What preceded it?

On the morning of 17 October, supporters of the Russian Orthodox Church stormed St Michael's Cathedral in Cherkasy and caused a disturbance. A fight broke out between supporters of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

This happened after it was reported that the church had moved from the UOC-MP to the OCU.

Metropolitan Ioan of Cherkasy and Chyhyryn said in a commentary to "Suspilne" that the transfer of the community took place on 12 June.

St Michael's Cathedral is the largest Orthodox church in Ukraine.

Нагадаємо: Bihus info випустив розслідування про мережу УПЦ-ФСБ, листування священників, лобі за кордоном і “СПЖ”.