Ukrainian leaders accused of ‘lobbying’ Moscow Patriarchate’s Interests

Kiev, February 15, Interfax – The Our Ukraine Party has demanded that the country’s supreme leadership “stop meddling” in the affairs of the Orthodox Church.

“We are condemning the encroachment on the statutory rights of the believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate, multiple instances of violent and deceitful seizure of this religion’s cathedrals in favor of the Moscow Patriarchate, with the tacit connivance and unofficial assistance by the authorities,” the party said in a letter to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich and Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov.

“We are protesting against the authorities’ interference in the religious activities, which manifests itself, in particular, in the resumption of the KGB-style pressure by law enforcement on the clergy with a view to induce them to cooperate, as the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Lubomir Huzar stated recently. Also, there have been multiple reports that the authorities are urging Orthodox priests from the Kiev Patriarchate to become subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate,” the opposition said.

The authorities are public demonstrating their loyalty to one religious denomination – the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, including through budget earmarks, Our Ukraine said.

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