Yelensky: Local authorities cannot ban the UOC, it is illegal

Head of the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience Viktor Yelensky. Photo: dw.com

Viktor Yelensky, head of the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, told DW that the actions of local authorities to ban the UOC in the regions are illegal.

According to him, the Verkhovna Rada is already considering a bill that will legally ban the activities of the Church.

“Local authorities cannot ban churches. The motives and aspirations are clear, but it is illegal. The government bill mentioned above, which is currently being considered in the Verkhovna Rada, is aimed precisely at making it impossible for the Moscow Patriarchate to manipulate the religious environment, which, in turn, is completely controlled by the Kremlin,” Yelensky said.

As reported by the UOJ, the representative of the President in the Verkhovna Rada said that a law would be passed in the near future to ban the UOC.

Read also

UOC deacon's family home burned down in Pohreby, believers ask for help

After a gas explosion, two sons of Deacon Olexiy Orlov underwent surgeries, the family asks for prayers and help in finding housing.

Britain records highest number of abortions in history

In England, Scotland and Wales, nearly 300 thousand abortions were performed in 2023.

In Cyprus, changes to Church Statute to be discussed over Met Tychikos case

The Orthodox Church of Cyprus is preparing to discuss changes to the Statute following the case of Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos.

English nurses manage to block transgender access to their changing rooms

Darlington nurses have won their case against the NHS after they were forced to share their changing room with a trans-identifying man.

In Onyshkivtsi, first liturgy to be celebrated in new UOC church on Jan 18

The first Liturgy will be held at the Church of St. Amphilochius of Pochaiv at the hermitage of Saint Anna the Righteous.

Met. Emmanuel: Constantinople does not support Montenegro's schismatics

Metropolitan Emmanuel stated that the Constantinople Patriarchate has never contacted schismatics in Montenegro.