In Bila Tserkva, non-believers tried to stab a man for saying "Christ is Risen"

In Bila Tserkva, a 19-year-old man and his 23-year-old accomplice attempted to kill a man over the greeting “Christ is Risen!” 

This was reported by the Kyiv Regional Police. The conflict arose at a local establishment, where the younger of the attackers reacted inappropriately to the traditional Christian greeting from the 35-year-old victim.

The 19-year-old patron, who practices a different faith, reacted aggressively. A verbal altercation on religious grounds ensued between them. The young man decided to kill his opponent and called his 23-year-old acquaintance, who also practices a different religion, asking for help. The acquaintance arrived and brought a knife with him.

Both assailants caught up with the victim on the street and knocked him to the ground. The younger of the two inflicted two stab wounds—to the abdomen and neck. After confirming that the wounds were fatal, the attackers fled. They were apprehended in the Lviv region.

Investigators charged the detainees with attempted murder committed by prior conspiracy motivated by religious intolerance. The court has already ordered pretrial detention without the right to bail for both. The young men face up to 15 years in prison for their actions. A pre-trial investigation is currently underway to establish all the circumstances of the incident.

Earlier, the National Police of Chernihiv Oblast detained a 22-year-old local resident suspected of committing an act of vandalism against a Jewish religious symbol, the menorah.