MP on UN сriticism of UOC ban law: "We opposed it as much as we could"

Mykyta Poturaev. Photo: Suspilne Culture

One of the key proponents of the UOC ban in the Verkhovna Rada, Mykyta Poturaev, assured Glavcom journalists that the statement by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights criticizing the UOC ban law was "expected" and both "pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian."

He stated, "Our representatives in the UN opposed it as much as they could, but our capabilities also have their limits. Unfortunately, the UN is stuffed with Russian agents of influence, so we shouldn’t expect too much from our diplomats," Poturaev asserted.

At the same time, he could not specify who exactly in the UN were these alleged Russian agents.

"As far as I know, a conglomerate was at work there. It’s hard to say where the Kremlin ends and where the Kremlin-adjacent individuals begin," the MP explained.

He argued that the report from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights could not be considered an analytical document. According to him, neither he nor Yehor Yehlenko were consulted by the UN, and therefore, the High Commissioner’s Office "could not write anything substantial."

"A conclusion can only be drawn when you study and research something. This is simply a political pro-Russian, anti-Ukrainian statement," Poturaev claimed. He assured that "this statement is just a collection of slogans without any evidence. Its creators are attempting to use it to discredit Ukraine and our struggle."

In his view, the UN's opinion should not be given any attention because "none of these actions will change our position or that of our closest friends in the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, who understand all the dangers posed by this so-called church."

Earlier, the UOJ reported that according to the UN’s findings, Ukraine failed to demonstrate the legality of the UOC ban.

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