Yelensky: The state can restrict religious freedom

Viktor Yelensky. Photo: Ukrainska Pravda

In an interview with Ukrainska Pravda, the head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, Viktor Yelensky, stated that the state can restrict freedom of conscience or religious freedom, even in cases unrelated to national security.

He referred to a PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) resolution, which was effectively quoted in the anti-church law. The law bans the Russian Orthodox Church and includes a nearly direct quote from the PACE resolution: "As the ideological continuation of the aggressive regime of the Russian Federation."

"International law allows Ukraine, like other countries, to restrict this freedom if, first of all, it serves a legitimate purpose. And few doubt that restricting the subversive activities of the Russian Church on Ukrainian territory is a legitimate goal," he said.

As the UOJ previously reported, in 2023, a criminal case was opened against Yelensky and his deputy for inciting interreligious hatred.

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