MOSCOW. March 25 (Interfax) - The threats to priests in Ukraine, which have become more frequent, are regrettable and an atmosphere of religious intolerance rules in Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"Russia notes with regret threats to priests, which have become more frequent in Ukraine," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its website.
For instance, some Ukrainian national socialist party has sent a letter with threats to representative of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church of the Cherkessk Eparchy Oleksandr Shyrokov, the document said.
"Ukrainian radical demanded that the authoritative priest stop 'any pro-Moscow hostile campaign.' In the case that the priest does not listen to the radical's threats, then according to the appeal of the Ukrainian national socialist working party, extreme measures of physical and destructive character will be introduced regarding him and his family," the statement said.
"Such attacks on priests in Ukraine confirm yet again an atmosphere of ethnic and religious intolerance, which currently rules in Ukraine," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.