Poturaev states that Bill 8371 is ready, while MPs demand examination

The meeting of the Verkhovna Rada. Photo: Rada press center

The head of the committee on humanitarian and information policy, MP Nikita Poturaev, announced that bill 8371 is ready for voting in the second reading, according to Glavcom.

At the same time, Poturaev insists that the text of the law does not involve restricting religious beliefs or democratic standards.

"I reiterate that it is not only about the Moscow Patriarchate, but about any organizations that are subordinate to the aggressor state. If there is no mention of ties with the Kremlin in the charter of a religious community, but subversive activities are carried out during the service, citizens can contact the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience. It issues an order, and if such activities are not stopped within 30 days, the State Service goes to court to prohibit such activities," he said.

However, not all MPs are ready to vote for bill 8371 in the second reading. Deputies from the parties "European Solidarity", "Trust", "Batkivshchyna", "Holos", and "For the Future" are ready to vote for banning the UOC. Opposed are the "Opposition Platform for Life and Peace", some MPs from "Servant of the People", and non-factional members. Regarding "Servant of the People", not all deputies in this faction agree with the provisions of bill 8371. For example, MP Yevhen Bagar calls it "discriminatory" and likely to cause "outrage in the world community".

Vice-Speaker Oleksandr Kornienko believes that bill 8371 does not need to be sent to the Venice Commission because only laws that may affect the common legal field with the EU need to be coordinated with the EU.

As reported by Glavcom, MP Rostyslav Palenko from "European Solidarity" stated that the Ukrainian parliament lacks the political will to vote for bill 8371 aimed at banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

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