UOC hierarch: MPs strongly emphasized their disregard for citizens

Metropolitan Clement (Vecheria). Photo: orthodox.cn.ua

By voting in favour of the bill aimed at banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada demonstrated their disregard for believing Ukrainians, said the head of the UOC Information and Education Department Metropolitan Clement of Nizhyn and Pryluky in a commentary to the BBC.

"The Church is, first of all, people," the bishop said. “At the same time, these people are citizens of Ukraine. Many of them defend their state from Russia, and many of them died as heroes. <...> As it (the bill - Ed.) was passed, I can say with certainty that the deputies did everything to strongly emphasise their disregard for these citizens. Once again politicians are sacrificing the religious beliefs of millions of Ukrainians to their corporate intrigues."

According to the Metropolitan, before restricting Orthodox Christians in their civil rights, the authorities had to prove their crimes, but "no authority will ever be able to prove that millions of UOC believers are criminals because they are not."

Vladyka stressed that if attempts are made to apply any sanctions to innocent people and restrict their freedom of conscience, "it will speak about the criminality of the representatives of the authorities, not the UOC believers".

As reported, the Legal Department of the UOC said that bill No 8371 adopted in the first reading does not comply with the European Convention on Human Rights and the Constitution of Ukraine.

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