The Government of Ukraine submitted to the Rada a bill implying a ban on the UOC
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The government of Ukraine has submitted a bill to parliament that allows for a ban on the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) if the country’s authorities come to the conclusion that it is connected with Russia, the press service of the Verkhovna Rada reports.
Government representative in the Verkhovna Rada Taras Melnichuk wrote on his Telegram channel that the bill is aimed at ensuring “spiritual independence”, promoting the consolidation of Ukrainian society and protecting national interests.
“The activities of religious organizations in Ukraine, the leading center (management) of which is located outside Ukraine in a state carrying out armed aggression against Ukraine, are excluded,” Melnichuk said.
In November 2022, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted searches in the churches of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In particular, it was reported about the verification of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the Archangel-Mikhailovsky Zverinets Monastery in Kyiv, two monasteries in the Rivne region, the Sarny diocese and the Chernivtsi-Bukovina diocese. Earlier today, the SBU came with searches to nine facilities of the UOC in the Zhytomyr, Rivne and Transcarpathian regions, the press service of the Ukrainian department reported.
In addition, on November 23, 2022, deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine submitted a bill to ban the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) on the territory of Ukraine. The authors of the initiative noted that this measure will be “another step towards a free and independent Ukraine.” On December 1, 2022, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky approved the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine on restrictive measures against representatives of religious organizations that are allegedly associated with Russia.
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