Catholics In Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk Get Their Church Back

DNIPROPETROVSK (RFE/RL) -- The Economic Court of Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk Oblast ruled on June 26 that the disputed building of the local Catholic Church should be returned to the Roman Catholic parish, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports.

Regional Judiciary head Volodimir Yurchenko told journalists the court's decision will take effect in 10 days.

The saga has been brewing for over 10 years now. The building was raised as a church in 1887-90 by local Roman Catholics.

During the Soviet-era, the building was nationalized and used for various purposes. In 1998, it was privatized by a company registered in the United States.

Roman Catholics in Dnipropetrovsk have been fighting to get their church back since that time.