Verkhovna Rada's relevant committee recommends the adoption of Bill 8371
Meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on the anti-church bill. Photo: VRU
The Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy recommends that the Verkhovna Rada adopt in its entirety the bill on the activities of religious organizations in Ukraine, No. 8371, reports the website of the Parliament of Ukraine.
It is reported that some provisions of the law were expanded for the second reading. In particular, the following wording was added to Article 3:
"Considering that the Russian Orthodox Church is an ideological extension of the regime of the aggressor state, an accomplice in war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on behalf of the Russian Federation and the ideology of the 'Russian world,' the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine are prohibited," the document states.
Committee member MP Yevheniya Kravchuk stated that by practically quoting the PACE resolution in this paragraph, Ukrainian parliamentarians are thereby strengthening bill 8371 with international documents.
The committee recommends that the Verkhovna Rada adopt this bill in its entirety as law.
As the UOJ reported, the American lawyer for the UOC, Robert Amsterdam, called on the US authorities to influence their allies in Ukraine, who plan to adopt bill No. 8371 next week.
Read also
Kosovo to enact law restricting Serbian Church, experts say
Analysts warn that the new "Law on Foreigners" in Kosovo could restrict the presence of clergy, believers' access to shrines, and increase pressure on the Serbian community.
Congress Speaker: Demand to introduce Sharia law in USA is a serious problem
The Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that there is growing concern in society about attempts to impose Islamic law, which is incompatible with the American Constitution.
UK government introduces restrictions on "anti-Muslim hostility"
UK authorities have adopted a new definition of "Islamophobia" which, according to experts, could provide Muslims with special protection and restrict freedom of speech.
Dumenko brings icon in Church Slavonic to Ministry of Health
Epifaniy presented cardiologists with an Intercession icon, with inscriptions in Church Slavonic, which his structure calls a "sign of the Moscow tradition".
ISIS supporters carries out terrorist attack at anti-Islamic protest in NY
Near the home of New York's Muslim mayor, radicals threw two makeshift bombs at protesters during an anti-Islamic rally.
Hryshchuk: If UOC hands over its church itself, angle grinders aren't needed
An OCU chaplain called on UOC believers to accept the loss of the shrine for the sake of their own "enlightenment".