Stefanchuk: Finalized Bill 8371 to be voted on at the next Rada session

Ruslan Stefanchuk. Photo: Ruslan Stefanchuk’s Facebook

In the near future, the Verkhovna Rada will consider Bill No. 8371, which de facto bans the UOC, said the Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk in an interview with the "We-Ukraine" TV channel on August 17.

"It will be voted on at the next session of the Verkhovna Rada. I am not at liberty to say exactly when that will be, but believe me, it will be in the coming days," he said.

According to Stefanchuk, the bill has been significantly revised.

"Members of Parliament have been working on refining this bill, and just last night, around 2 a.m., we completed all the consultations. This morning, the committee reviewed the amendments and approved the updated version. And you know, it’s very good that we had the time to bring it to a certain level of perfection," Stefanchuk said.

He stated that the bill presented to the session hall of the Verkhovna Rada would be "of much higher quality than before".

"The Russian Church in Ukraine will be banned. This is a clear provision outlined in Article 3 of this law. Additionally, religious organisations in Ukraine that are suspected of any affiliation or cooperation with the Russian Orthodox Church will undergo a relevant examination. Experts who specialise in this matter will determine whether there are signs of affiliation. If such signs are found, a decision will be made to terminate the activities of these organisations," he claimed.

Stefanchuk added that such a decision could be challenged in court.

As reported by the UOJ, an investigation by a journalist from an American publication suggests that the media are shaping a hostile attitude toward the UOC.

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