Religious persecution Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina

after installation of soviet administration, religious life in bessarabia , northern bukovina underwent persecution similar 1 in russia between 2 world wars. in first days of occupation, population groups welcomed soviet power , of them joined newly established soviet nomenklatura, including nkvd, soviet political police. latter has used these locals find , arrest numerous priests. other priests arrested , interrogated soviet nkvd itself, deported interior of ussr, , killed. research on subject still @ stage. of 2007, christian orthodox church has granted martyrdom ca. 50 clergymen died in first year of soviet rule (1940–1941).