On Thursday, in the city of Storojineț, Chernivtsi region, the Ukrainian security services conducted searches at the home of Protopope Vasile Covalciuc, a leader of the local Orthodox community. The incident occurred just a few hours before the official visit of the Romanian State Secretary for Religious Affairs, Ciprian Olinici, to Chernivtsi.
Following the searches, the 62-year-old protopope of Storojineț was urgently transported to the hospital and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Upon learning of the situation, Ciprian Olinici decided to personally visit the priest in the hospital and speak with him.
The Romanian official’s gesture underscores his concern for the protection of religious freedom and the rights of Romanian clergy in Ukraine amid the recent tensions in the region. Although his visit to Chernivtsi followed an official schedule, Olinici considered it essential to ensure that Father Covalciuc received the necessary medical care and moral support during this difficult time.
According to sources from STIRIPESURSE.RO, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has been informed about the events in Chernivtsi.
This visit reflects the involvement of Romanian authorities in supporting Romanian religious communities in Ukraine, especially in a sensitive context where religious freedom and minority rights remain highly relevant topics.
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