In Ukraine, the ban on the UOC was legalized: “Agents of Russia”

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church reacted to the Rada vote

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine continues to work to split the country. In the first reading, a law was adopted that makes it possible to ban the work of religious organizations associated with the Russian Orthodox Church. 267 deputies voted “for”, 15 “against”. The adoption of this bill is aimed at banning the UOC on the territory of Ukraine.

The meeting on this issue was held in a traditional atmosphere. One of the people’s deputies shouted that the main enemy for Ukrainians is the “Russian church,” and anyone who does not vote “for” can consider himself a supporter of Moscow. And People’s Deputy Knyazhitsky, speaking at the podium, argued that this law does not violate any norms or rights, and Ukraine is still a democratic state.

However, even European partners have begun to doubt Ukraine’s democracy. Before the meeting, the World Council of Churches addressed a letter to the Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine, signed by the Director of the Commission of Churches on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches, Peter Prouv. They asked for a review of the bill: “We call for a fundamental rethinking of these measures and, at a minimum, significant corrections to address its shortcomings in accordance with Ukraine’s constitutional obligations and its national interests.” And the UN earlier included in its report pressure on the UOC as an example of human rights violations.

People’s Deputy Irina Gerashchenko reported about the dissatisfaction of Western partners. She stated that international allies are concerned about the consequences of the ban on the UOC and that it is because of this that Ukraine is delaying the adoption of anti-church laws. At the same time, she called for it to be explained to these allies that they are mistaken, and “this is not about freedom of religion, but about national security.”

Let us remember that the Ukrainian authorities have been trying to “squeeze” the UOC for a long time. The most striking example of the anti-church actions of the Kyiv authorities was the situation around the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. The State National Reserve prematurely and illegally terminated the contract with the UOC monastery, located within the walls of the Lavra. The rector of the monastery, Metropolitan Pavel, was arrested, churches were closed to parishioners of the canonical UOC, and the monastery buildings were sealed. Some of them have already been transferred to the use of the “alternative church” – the OCU, which is under the protectorate of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew with residence in Turkey.

The Legal Department of the UOC has already stated that the bill “violates the right to freedom of religion and does not comply with the European Convention on Human Rights and the Constitution of Ukraine.” And, although the law itself does not speak of a ban on the UOC, everything indicates that the law will be applied specifically to it.

“They are deliberately trying to pass off the UOC as the Russian Orthodox Church, and classify clergy and believers as agents of Russia,” they emphasized in the commentary. According to the UOC, the adoption of the bill will indicate a loss of meaning in the declared human rights and freedoms in Ukraine.