Amsterdam: MPs want to force Ukrainians to accept OCU as the state church
American lawyer Robert Amsterdam. Photo: departurespodcast.com
Robert Amsterdam, head of the international human rights company Amsterdam & Partners LLP, who is a lawyer for the UOC, in response to criticism from MPs of his activities, stated that the duty of a lawyer is to clearly and unequivocally express a warning about predatory and discriminatory legislation against the UOC. He reported this in a comment to Strana.ua.
According to the lawyer, the bill in the version for consideration in the second reading is clearly aimed not only at destroying the UOC, but also at abolishing fundamental principles of law and coercing the people of Ukraine to essentially accept the Orthodox Church of Ukraine as the state church.
As the UOJ reported, lawyer and Archpriest Nikita Chekman disclosed information from the indictment to one of the detained Orthodox journalists and human rights defenders on March 12 – Archpriest Sergiy Chertilin about the fact that the OCU, according to the prosecution, is an "attribute of statehood".
Read also
UOC not legally part of Moscow Patriarchate – official
An employee of the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration told journalists that there is no such legal entity in the Unified State Register as “the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in unity with the Moscow Patriarchate.”
Garden set on fire at Russian Ecclesiastical Mission's compound in Hebron
The perpetrators threw hot coals wrapped in foil over the fence, which ignited the trees.
Kamianske Eparchy holds UOC procession of the cross for peace in Ukraine
On August 17, the procession of the cross visited six churches of Kamianske.
Language ombudsman claims Ukraine is fighting “for our faith”
Ivanovska called the UOC “an instrument of imperial policy.”
UCCRO endorses continued pressure on the UOC
The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) assured that Ukraine is “known worldwide for its high standards of religious freedom, which are preserved and upheld even under martial law.”
Head of Czech Church сongratulates Met Onuphry on anniversary of his primacy
The Primate of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia wished Metropolitan Onuphry to be “an inexhaustible source of consolation and hope.”