BELGRADE, Jan 12 (Hina) - Serb Orthodox bishop Jovan Vraniskovski and a group of some 50 priests and nuns who were arrested on Sunday in Bitolj, Macedonia, were released on Monday after spending 24 hours in police custody. The bishop
was charged with instigating ethnic, religious and racial hatred and intolerance, the Belgrade-based Radio B92 reported today.
BELGRADE, Jan 12 (Hina) - Serb Orthodox bishop Jovan Vraniskovski and a
group of some 50 priests and nuns who were arrested on Sunday in
Bitolj, Macedonia, were released on Monday after spending 24 hours in
police custody. The bishop was charged with instigating ethnic,
religious and racial hatred and intolerance, the Belgrade-based Radio
B92 reported today.#L#
According to eyewitnesses, the bishop and his clergy were arrested for
conducting religious service in the bishop's apartment. Conducting
religious service outside religious facilities is banned by law in
Macedonia.
Bishop Jovan Vraniskovski was appointed Ohrid Archdiocese bishop
several months ago, together with two other Serb Orthodox bishops
against whom the police pressed charges for disturbing public peace
and order.
The Serb Orthodox Church does not recognise the Macedonian Orthodox
Church which in 1967 declared independence. The Macedonian Orthodox
Church previously banned Vranisevski from conducting religious service
in Macedonia.
(Hina) rml