Authorities deny UOC community in Kryvyi Rih a land plot for a church

Kryvyi Rih City Council. Photo: RUDANA

The religious community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) dedicated to Saints Constantine and Helena in Kryvyi Rih was denied the privatization of a land plot for the construction of a church, reports the local publication 0564.ua.

As reported by the city council secretary Yurii Vilkul, the UOC community's application was submitted through the administrative services center "Visa". In accordance with the Law of Ukraine on Administrative Services, the Department of Urban Planning Regulation cannot ignore such requests and is required to submit them for consideration by the city council session. According to Vilkul, the documents provided met the legal requirements.

However, council member Natalia Shyshko opposed the proposal, citing a new law regulating the activities of religious organizations in Ukraine. In particular, she pointed out the need to verify the community for its affiliation to a foreign religious organization, whose activities are banned in Ukraine. According to her, only after such a review can the city council make a final decision on the transfer of the land plot.

The law "On the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Religious Organizations" prohibits the use of state or municipal property by religious organizations affiliated with banned foreign entities.

As previously reported by the UOJ, in 2023, deputies of the Kryvyi Rih city council were set to consider an electronic petition calling for the termination of all contracts between the city and the UOC.

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