Stefanchuk: Law banning the UOC may be adopted in early 2024

Ruslan Stefanchuk. Photo: pravda.com.ua

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, may pass the bill No. 8371 aimed at prohibiting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the second reading as early as the beginning of the next year, according to the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk. He made this statement during a television marathon, as reported by the Telegram channel "Politika Strany".

"The committee must make decisions, consultations, accept it as a proposal in the second reading," said Stefanchuk. "I hope this issue can be resolved at the beginning of next year."

As previously reported by the UOJ, 51 members of parliament had earlier called on Ruslan Stefanchuk to send the bill No. 8371, approved in the first reading, for examination to the Venice Commission.

The UOJ also reported that the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ilze Brands Kehris, stated at a meeting of the UN Security Council that Ukrainian authorities should reconsider the text of the bill No. 8371.

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