PO rep laments not all Ukrainians take pride in level of religious freedom

Olena Koval’ska. Photo: Ukrinform

The Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine for Humanitarian Affairs, Olena Koval’ska, in an interview with Ukrinform, discussed the attention Western partners pay to the religious situation in Ukraine and emphasized that the level of religious freedom in the country is a source of pride.

According to her, the United States closely monitors religious freedoms in Ukraine through specialized institutions that study this issue worldwide. “The religious aspect has political significance. Ukraine is more secular than America in this regard, but the issue of religious freedom is important and influences political decisions,” Koval’ska noted.

The deputy head of the Presidential Office also expressed regret that not all Ukrainians realize the country can take pride in its achievements in religious freedom.

Regarding the issue of banning religious organizations linked to Russia, Koval’ska explained the provisions of the Law of Ukraine “On Protecting the Constitutional Order in the Activities of Religious Organizations,” adopted in August 2024. The law aims to ensure the country’s security and eliminate the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church, which Koval’ska described as “a participant in aggression against Ukraine.”

Koval’ska believes the law does not restrict the right to freedom of religion and clarified that religious organizations linked to the Russian Orthodox Church can avoid consequences if they officially declare their withdrawal from it. “If a church associated with the Russian Orthodox Church exits its structure and provides the relevant documents, the law will not apply,” Koval’ska explained.

The legislative measures will unfold over nine months, during which the government must adopt several bylaws for full implementation.

The deputy head also commented on recent accusations from American lawyer Bob Amsterdam, who claimed that the interests of Christians were being infringed upon in Ukraine. She viewed these accusations as part of an information war.

“Our enemy invests significant resources in promoting its cultural products and information campaigns. They identify sensitive topics, such as religion, and begin to ‘escalate’ them. This includes accusations of violations of religious freedoms in Ukraine,” Koval’ska stressed.

As previously reported by the UOJ, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during his address to the Verkhovna Rada, stated that the government would continue its dialogue with all churches in the country except the UOC, which he referred to as the 'Moscow Church'.

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