Ukrainian Parliament Bans Ukrainian Orthodox Church with Alleged Russian Ties

OCP News Service – 20/08/2024

Kyiv – Ukraine: In a decisive move, the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has overwhelmingly passed legislation banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP). The decision comes amid accusations of the church’s close ties to Russia and its perceived support for the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The Verkhovna Rada voted 265-29-4 to adopt Bill 8371, which outlaws any religious organization centered in Russia. The new law, which awaits the signature of President Volodymyr Zelensky, will effectively prohibit the activities of the UOC-MP on Ukrainian territory.

The UOC-MP has been under increasing pressure from the Ukrainian government and society since the Russian invasion in 2022, with many accusing it of being a tool of Russian propaganda and influence. The church has denied these allegations, claiming that it severed ties with the Russian Orthodox Church in May 2022 and is a fully independent entity. However, Ukrainian authorities have continued to express concerns about the church’s connections to Moscow and its potential role in undermining Ukraine’s national security.

Under the new law, parish and monastery communities of the UOC-MP will have 9 months to sever ties with the Russian Church. Despite the UOC-MP’s decision to separate itself from the Moscow Patriarchate in May 2022, the Ukrainian state continues to brand it as a Russian Church, justifying its persecution of the church.

The ban is likely to have significant implications for religious life in Ukraine, as the UOC-MP is one of the largest Christian denominations in the country. It remains to be seen how the church’s followers will respond to the decision and whether there will be any widespread protests or civil unrest.

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Source:

OCP News Service