OHCHR Condemns Ukraine’s Crackdown on Religious Freedom

OCP News Service with DECR – 05/10/2024

Geneva – Switzerland: The Ukrainian government’s escalating crackdown on religious freedom, particularly targeting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), has drawn sharp criticism from the international community.

According to a recent report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Ukrainian government has banned the activities of UOC religious communities in several regions, imprisoned clergy members, and enacted a new law that effectively outlaws the Russian Orthodox Church and its affiliated organizations.

One of the most egregious cases involves Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchin and Bratslav, who was sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly justifying the armed conflict. Despite his advanced age and deteriorating health, Metropolitan Jonathan was pressured to confess and agree to be exchanged with Russia.

The OHCHR has also documented the detention of Metropolitan Arseniy of Svyatogorsk, the abbot of the Assumption Svyatogorsk Lavra, who has been held in pretrial detention without bail since April 24. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has condemned his arrest as a “punitive measure” aimed at suppressing the UOC.

The passage of a new law in August 2024 has further intensified concerns about Ukraine’s commitment to religious freedom. The law restricts the activities of religious organizations associated with Russia, citing national security as a justification. However, the OHCHR has raised concerns about the law’s compliance with international human rights standards, arguing that it goes beyond permissible grounds for such restrictions.

The Ukrainian government’s actions have sparked widespread condemnation from religious leaders, human rights organizations, and international governments. Critics argue that these measures are discriminatory and disproportionate, while supporters maintain that they are necessary to protect Ukraine’s national security.