Pavlenko: Ukrainian govt must explain benefits of banning UOC to Republicans

Rostyslav Pavlenko. Photo: European Solidarity
MP from the European Solidarity faction Rostyslav Pavlenko commented on the criticism by David Vance, the U.S. Vice Presidential candidate selected by Donald Trump, regarding the law banning the UOC. According to Pavlenko, the Ukrainian authorities should explain the benefits of adopting draft law No. 8371 to U.S. Republicans.
"Look, the authorities need to focus on clarifying the main positions of national security policy, so that no one under the influence of lobbyists, or information noise, or any lies has incorrect perceptions," Pavlenko said.
The MP claims that the bill does not ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Instead, it bans the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church, which has been condemned by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
"It is about banning activities. Regarding affiliation, there are clear criteria that provide a clear procedure for state response, and the decision is made by the court. Therefore, instead of referring to what someone said or wrote, the state should make every effort to clarify the truth and debunk lies," the Poroshenko party MP explained.
As reported by UOJ, the head of the U.S. State Department received a letter with the names of MPs initiating the ban on the UOC.
Read also
OCU activist admits breaking into UOC church in Sloviansk
Oleksandr Onyshchenko said that the OCU held its first "service" at the Seraphim Church, which had previously been broken into by forcing the locks and doors.
Archimandrite Ioustinos, longtime keeper of Jacob's Well, dies in Jordan
Archimandrite Ioustinos (Mamallos), the keeper of Jacob's Well in Nablus, has died after a prolonged illness.
Pilgrim group from Kyiv Theological Seminary visits Mount Athos
KTS students are making a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Romania, Greece, Mount Athos and Italy.
UOC cathedral celebrates its patronal feast in Ternopil
The service in the cathedral of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia was led by Metropolitan Serhii of Ternopil, concelebrated by four hierarchs.
MinCulture marks centenary of Soviet-era reserve at Lavra's Refectory Church
Representatives of the Ministry of Culture presented awards to the Reserve's employees on the occasion of the anniversary at the Refectory Church of the Lavra.
Conference to mark 1700th anniversary of Christianity adoption held in Georgia
In Georgia, representatives of the Church and the state noted the defining role of Christianity in the country's cultural development.