Verkhovna Rada passes law banning Russian Orthodox Church
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has passed a law that bans the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine and issues an ultimatum to religious organisations affiliated with the Russian Federation.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has passed a law that bans the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine and issues an ultimatum to religious organisations affiliated with the Russian Federation.
265 deputies voted in favour of the law. The Ukrainian Parliament did not review the law in a second reading but approved it immediately after the session began. The opposition did not insist on considering its amendments, according to the BBC.
The law stipulates that Ukrainian courts will ban the activities of churches belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church upon request from the authorities. Simultaneously, the law explicitly bans the Russian Orthodox Church itself.
Kyiv has portrayed the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, historically linked to Russia, as a centre of Russian influence and an accomplice in the Kremlin’s extensive invasion of Ukraine.
Prior to the vote in the Ukrainian Parliament, the Council of All Churches and Religious Organisations in Ukraine condemned the Russian Orthodox Church for supporting Russian aggression and demanded a ban on the activities of religious organisations affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church.
In response, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate, stated that the draft law “violates the Convention on Human Rights and the Constitution of Ukraine.”
The law is expected to be confirmed through a court ruling.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
