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Orthodox Priest Heads Opposition Bloc in Transcarpathia

08.02.2006, [10:15] // Church-state relations //

Transcarpathia– Archpriest Dymytrii Sydir, pastor of the Orthodox cathedral in southwestern Ukrainian Uzhhorod, who left the Party of Regions headed by V. Yanukovych and joined the Socialists last year, now heads the list of candidates in the Transcarpathia region for Natalia Vitrenko’s National Opposition. Vitrenko announced this on 3 February 2006.

Fr. Sydir explained his choice in the following way: “I helped the Socialists to form the faction, as they lacked one deputy. I did not agree to join their list because I did not like what was going on there. And I did not have enough money.”

obkom.net.ua reports that, “in a period of friendly relations with the local Socialists, Fr. Sydir, a deputy of the regional council, not only furnished a waiting room in the Orthodox church but also set up a civic office of Oleksandr Moroz, leader of the Socialist Party, in this holy place.”

Fr. Sydir said that he has not become a member of the Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine, of which Vitrenko is the head, but has only gone onto the election list of the National Opposition bloc. The reason, he said: “This is the only [bloc] that defends the interests of Transcarpathia (in particular, the recognition of Rusyn nationality and autonomous rule of the area).”

Source:

• http://obkom.net.ua/news/2006-02-04/0930.shtml