The State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience recognized the UOC (MP) as affiliated with the ROC
The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience officially admitted Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC).
“DESS passed a decision to recognize the Kyiv Metropolitanate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (identification code according to EDRPOU 21510633) as affiliated with a foreign religious organization, the activity of which is prohibited in Ukraine in accordance with Article 3 of the Law of Ukraine “On Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Field of Activities of Religious Organizations””. – the message says.
The department explained that this decision was preceded by a special study that confirmed the presence of signs of affiliation.
“Accordingly, the DESS sent the CM of the UOC an order to eliminate the violation of the law. In his letter, the head of the UOC, Metropolitan Onufriy, stated his refusal to comply with the specified order.”, the message says.
Thus, due to the lack of grounds for the conclusion that violations have been eliminated or that the ruling was erroneous, the Service recognized the UOC (MP) as affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church.
It will be recalled that on May 9, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the procedure for conducting a study to identify signs of affiliation of a religious organization with a foreign religious structure, the activity of which is prohibited in Ukraine. Also, the procedure for consideration of questions about the confirmation of the use of a religious organization for the propaganda of the ideology of “Russian peace” was approved. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (MP) appealed in court against the government’s decision to conduct such research.
On May 20, State Policy began an investigation into the presence of signs of affiliation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (MP) with a banned foreign religious organization. On July 9, the department reported that it had discovered signs of the UOC (MP) connection with the Russian Orthodox Church, whose activities are banned in Ukraine.
On July 17, the Ministry of State Policy issued an order to the UOC (MP) to eliminate violations of the legislation on freedom of conscience and religious organizations by August 18. The list of religious structures that are part of or associated with the UOC (MP) was also approved. Subsequently, the UOC (MP) sent a letter to the department, where it stated its position regarding the status of the Church, stating that the order is interference in internal affairs and cannot be implemented.
On August 20, the head of State Policy, Viktor Yelenskyi, emphasized that in case of failure to comply with the order, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (MP) will be recognized as affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church and will file a lawsuit for its termination.
