Head of State Ethnopolitics: Ukraine is a role model in the religious matter

Viktor Yelensky. Photo: lb.ua

Viktor Yelensky, the head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, noted that today Ukraine is an example for Eastern and Western countries in terms of freedom of conscience, democracy and openness in religious matters. The official stated this on the radio "Culture" on January 3, 2023.

At the same time, Yelensky emphasized that one should not equate freedom of conscience with tolerance towards Russian aggression.

“When we say that we will defend the freedom of conscience for everyone, the opportunity to adequately express their religious feelings by everyone, this does not mean the possibility of the activities of the Moscow Patriarchate structures here, which could be channels of influence of the aggressor country,” explained the head of the State Ethnopolitics.

He also recalled that the structures and religious associations of the UOC should "separate from the Moscow Patriarchate."

Three factors should push them to this: “popular indignation, resentment among the priests themselves <…> and pressure from the state.”

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that according to Yelensky, only one Orthodox Church should remain in Ukraine.

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