Сourt finds unlawful Ministry of Culture’s order to abolish UOC-KP statutes

The District Administrative Court of Kiev. Photo: femida.news

On September 11, 2019, the Kiev District Administrative Court issued a ruling on securing the claim of the Kiev Patriarchate against the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine on the illegality of abolishing the Statute of the UOC-KP and the Kiev Patriarchate, reports the press service of the UOC-KP.

In particular, it is reported that “the court confirmed the illegality of the order of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, which abolished the statutes of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate and the Kiev Patriarchate,” and the statement filed by the liquidation commission on the waiver of the claim and the termination of the representation of the Kiev Patriarchate’s interests by a lawyer authorized by Patriarch Filaret, the court considers obstructing access to justice. "

By its decision, the court forbade the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, their structural units, state authorities and local self-government, notaries to conduct any registration actions regarding the Kiev Patriarchate of the UOC-KP and its property.

Also, according to the ruling, the liquidation commission headed by the OCU "bishop" John Yaremenko prohibited "any actions to govern the Kiev Patriarchate and the disposal of its property."

“Once again we emphasize: the liquidation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate is unlawful. The purpose of the OCU leadership is clear. They seek to harm the reputation and undermine the authority of His Holiness Patriarch Filaret as a symbol of the struggle for autocephaly of Ukrainian Orthodoxy and religious freedom. This is an attempt by the leadership of the OCU to gain access to the funds and property of the Kiev Patriarchate. Our Church is a solid spiritual foundation for an independent Ukraine! Our Church announces the truth far and wide. The struggle for an independent Ukrainian Church continues. God and Ukraine are with us! The truth will win!” said the press service of the UOC-KP.

We recall that on September 4, 2019, the Kiev District Administrative Court fully granted the lawsuit of the UOC-KP lawyers to secure a claim prohibiting the “Metropolitan” of the OCU John Yaremenko from taking any actions to dispose of the property of the Kiev Patriarchate of the UOC-KP.

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