08 January 2014, 01:21
Enhanced police units guarded Sochi churches during Christmas services, parishioners report
On the Christmas night, Sochi Orthodox churches were taken under enhanced guard. Parishioners noticed unusually large number of policemen on duty at the entrances to the churches. In some cases, they asked the believers to open their bags to check their contents and explained the need for such check by the interests of citizens themselves.
"At the entrance to the church in Vinogradnaya Street, a policeman asked me to open my bag," Irina Solovyova told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "In fact, I did not protest, since policemen should be vigilant to prevent terror acts," the woman said.
However, Ilya Sinitsyn, who was asked by policemen to open his backpack for examination, when he passed by the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Adler, believes that it was a violation of civil rights. "I wasn't going to enter the church, and was just passing by; and policemen began searching my things. Why? Where is the law saying that they are allowed doing this right in the street?" he asked. According to his story, the policemen were not local ones; and they refused to introduce themselves.
Author: Svetlana Kravchenko Source: CK correspondent
