Office of the UN High Commissioner published a report on discrimination against the UOC in Ukraine
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The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights released a report assessing the state of religious freedom in Ukraine, reported on the website of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate (DECR).
The report covers the period from August 1, 2022 to January 31, 2023. One of its sections speaks of discrimination against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In particular, about discriminatory bills, as well as about the application of the so-called “security measures” by the SBU against the UOC.
“The SBU carried out searches (some of them called “security measures”) in several monasteries, offices, educational institutions and other property of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the report says. 13 areas where this happened are listed.
Interrogations of priests with the use of a lie detector are also mentioned.
The DECR statement says that the SBU confirmed that at least three suspicions were filed against the clergy of the UOC – 2 of them under the article “Violation of the equality of citizens on the basis of race, nationality, religion, disability or other characteristics” of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and one – “on a variety of charges “, including “an encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine, as well as the denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.”
At least two suspects are under house arrest.
The Office of the High Commissioner is concerned about the actions of Kyiv against the UOC, which may be discriminatory, the DECR notes. In addition, the report stressed the need to ensure that all accused clerics have the right to a fair trial.
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