The Verkhovna Rada approved in the first reading the ban of the UOC in Ukraine – Kommersant
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Ukrainian deputies of the Verkhovna Rada adopted in the first reading a bill banning religious organizations associated with Russia. As UNIAN notes, this will affect the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) of the Moscow Patriarchate, which in 2022 declared itself independent from the Russian Orthodox Church.
The bill was approved in the first reading by 260 votes. 15 people opposed, 2 abstained, 17 did not vote, deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak reported on Telegram. Deputies greeted the voting results with applause.
The UOC has been facing problems since the beginning of the Russian military operation in Ukraine. Several regions independently banned activities of the church on its territory. Searches were carried out in the monasteries of the UOC, monks are being tried in court evict from the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.
A bill to ban religious organizations associated with Russia earlier criticized Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The office has also spoken out against other religion-related bills being considered in Ukraine. OHCHR is concerned that government actions directed against the UOC may be discriminatory.
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