US human rights defenders: discrimination against UOC is an obstacle for the European choice

In 2017, cases of violation of the rights of UOC believers were included for the first time in monitoring documents of human rights organizations of the United States, said in his blog on the "Correspondent" the head of the NGO "Public Advocacy" Oleg Denisov.

"Tensions and disputes over legitimacy and identity have led to continuous legal battles over property and other issues, and in some cases – to harassment and social exclusion," the international human rights organization ADF International (USA) noted at the 28th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

According to the human rights activist, religious relations should become an untouchable theme for Ukrainian officials.

He explains that beating more than 15 believers of the UOC in vlg. Katerynivka of the Ternopil region by the MIA unit "Ternopil-2", the conflict around the church in vlg. Ptycha of the Rivne region, when, despite the won lawsuits, the community of the UOC was forced to leave the church, beating activists of the flash mob "bring a doll" in the Sts. Peter and Fevronia Church of Zaporozhye because of their behavior, an informational discrediting campaign against the UOC – all these precedents are unacceptable from the point of view of the culture of developed countries.

According to O. Denisov, European and American observers are increasingly convinced that Ukraine is a "wild field", with processes that are not controlled by anybody in society. Any picture in the media, reports from OSCE and UN monitoring missions about what is happening here in reality will alienate a tranquil Europe from Ukraine and as a result, even those doors that are open now will be closed for the country.

He believes that such an understanding will influence all processes, including visa-free travel, financial assistance and other effective solutions for the country.

Read also

Innsbruck Catholic church to be converted into bouldering gym

A Catholic church in Innsbruck, Austria, is going to become a bouldering gym.

Anthropic warns of existential AI threat

The developers of Claude warned that artificial intelligence could pose a catastrophic threat to humanity without adequate safeguards.

DESS chief discusses OCU membership with World Council of Churches

World Council of Churches representatives explained the organization's membership admission process to DESS officials.

KDAiS hosts conference on religious and secular education

The Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary hosted its 18th international academic conference, bringing together 63 speakers and marking anniversaries associated with St. Peter Mohyla.

OCU “brethren” take national unity dictation in Lavra Refectory Church

The reserve administration organized a national radio dictation in the Lavra's Refectory Church to help participants “feel connected through language.”

Ecumenism leads to religion of Antichrist, U.S. theologian says

Theologian Fr. Peter Heers described ecumenism as the greatest temptation of the last days and a heresy concerning the nature of the Church.