Verkhovna Rada: UOC can be banned only by a court decision

Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Photo: Volodymyr Chupryn

The Lutsk City Council received an official response to the appeal, in which the deputies ask to ban the UOC. It is reported by konkurent.ua.

“The Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy notes that if a religious organization violates the provisions of the Law of Ukraine ‘On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations’ or other legislative acts of Ukraine, its activities may be terminated by a court decision,” the document says.

At the same time, the official statement notes that there must be specific grounds for the ban, such as the commission by a religious organization of actions, the inadmissibility of which is provided for in Articles 3, 5 and 17 of this Law; a combination of ritual or preaching activities of a religious organization with encroachments on life, health, freedom and dignity.

Also, the reason for the ban on the activities of a religious organization may be a systematic violation of the procedure established by law for holding public religious events; inducing citizens to non-fulfillment of their constitutional obligations or actions that are accompanied by gross violations of public order or encroachment on the rights and property of state, public or religious organizations; conviction of its authorized persons for committing a criminal offense against the foundations of the national security of Ukraine, provided for in Article 1111 of the Criminal Code.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Lutsk City Council appealed to the Parliament with a call "to adopt appropriate changes to the legislation of Ukraine as soon as possible and to ban the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church."

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