RESIDENTS OF KIEV AGAINST CONSTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN CHURCH

Armenpress
Apr 17 2006

KIEV, APRIL 17, ARMENPRESS: Residents of a Kiev district are protesting
against construction of an Armenian church in their borough.

In 1992 the authorities of the Ukrainian capital city passed a decision
allowing the Armenian community of the town to build a church on a
1,022 square meter location in Podol district. The community held
several fundraising campaigns and after collecting the necessary
amount it ordered a church design and began construction, but local
residents destroyed the fence of the site saying they would not allow
construction in the green zone.

Ukrainians argue they are against the destruction of the green
zone where the church is supposed to be erected but not against
Armenians. “Even Jews who have been living in this district for many
years never tried to build a synagogue in the park,’ one of the
residents was quoted by RFE/RL as saying. But Vahe Stepanian from
the Ukrainian Diocese of the Armenian Church says he is ready to go
through all level courts to defend the community’s legal right.”