Ukraine is preparing to liquidate Russian churches that have not joined the OCU

Communities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) that do not join the OCU may be liquidated through the courts after the end of the nine-month transition period provided for by the law on the protection of the constitutional order in the field of religious organizations.

This was stated by the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy , Nikita Poturaev, in an interview with Ukrinform.

According to him, the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DSES) has the authority to apply to the court with a demand to terminate the activities of religious organizations if they have not fulfilled the requirements of the law after the expiration of the allotted period.

Poturaev noted that some UOC-MP communities are not transferring to the OCU, probably on the instructions of the governing center in Russia. Currently, the process of transitions has slowed down significantly, which, according to the MP, may indicate a centralized restraint on this process.

He also pointed out that the key is to identify the structures of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex in Ukraine that have ties to the Russian Federation. Such centers should be the target of response.

At the same time, certain provisions of the law still cannot be implemented, as the Cabinet of Ministers has not approved the necessary bylaws. Poturaiev said that there are comments from the Ministry of Justice and the NAPC, in particular regarding the section on religious property. A response from the anti-corruption agencies is currently awaited.

On August 20, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted in the second reading for draft law No. 8371 on the prohibition of activities of religious organizations, including those affiliated with the Russian Federation, in Ukraine. The bill was supported by 236 MPs.

The law comes into force 30 days after its publication. But except for one point - according to it, the UOC (MP) communities will have 9 months to break ties with the Russian Orthodox Church.

The day before, the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (AUCCRO) supported the parliamentary initiative to ban the activities of religious organizations affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church.

On October 19, 2023, the Verkhovna Rada supported in the first reading Bill No. 8371 on the ban on religious organizations affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church. In particular, it banned the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate).

Ірина Глухова