Pochaev Lavra brethren discuss violation of UOC believers’ rights with OSCE

A meeting of monks and clergymen of the Ternopol eparchy with OSCE representatives

A meeting of monks and clergymen of the Ternopol eparchy with representatives of the OSCE took place on February 11, 2019, at the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra, reports the site of the monastery.

During the meeting, the situation in the Ternopol eparchy and the situation that has developed around the Pochaev Lavra were considered.

Also, meeting participants discussed issues of legal relations between the state and the Church and violations of the rights of UOC believers, including church raiding by the OCU, the inaction of the authorities to ensure the protection of the religious rights of the UOC, and facts of physical violence against priests and believers of the UOC.

The brethren and priests provided proof-based information on the violation of the rights and freedoms of UOC believers to the OSCE representatives.

The parties agreed on further cooperation to ensure interfaith peace and stability in the region.

We recall that at the end of 2018, the Ministry of Justice abolished the state registration of the rights of the UOC to the Pochaev Lavra buildings, and the Cabinet of Ministers returned the monastery to the Kremenets-Pochaev Reserve.

As reported by the UOJ, lawyers from the NGO Public Advocacy report increasing cases of violations of the rights of the UOC communities and inform international human rights organizations about each of them.

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