Amsterdam: In Ukraine, children of Christ are repressed with American funds

Robert Amsterdam at the Summit in the U.S. Photo: Amsterdam's X page

On February 6, 2025, at the International Religious Freedom Summit (IRFSummit2025) in Washington, D.C., Robert Amsterdam, a lawyer representing the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), spoke about the persecution of the largest and oldest religious denomination in Ukraine by the country's authorities. Amsterdam published a video of his speech on his X page.

"The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is a thousand-year-old Church facing repression – if not extinction – by our ally, Ukraine," Amsterdam said, addressing his fellow Americans. He reminded them that the UOC is made up of "our people," whose parishioners are on the front lines, supporting Ukraine and its existential battle for freedom. "Of that have no doubt."

According to him, this is the first time in 45 years of his being a human rights lawyer that "children of Christ have been repressed with American funds."

He added that "American support and American dollars are behind the destruction of this Church. It was discussed as early as 2014 by Ms. Nuland, adopted by then-Secretary of State Pompeo." According to him, when U.S. authorities lobbied for the creation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), "nobody ever thought that the Ukrainian government would then go ban" the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Amsterdam reminded the audience that in May of this year, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church may well cease to exist due to the law banning it.

"This law, passed by Ukraine, has been condemned by everyone: His Holiness the Pope, the Church of England, the United Nations, and Human Rights Watch recently has condemned these illegal and criminal actions against the people who are fighting in the war in Ukraine," he stressed.

He argued that Ukrainian politicians, by destroying the UOC, hoped in their minds to weaken Putin, but in reality, they are doing the opposite: "They are in fact attacking their own people. They are dividing their own populace at a time when they need unity," the lawyer said.

Amsterdam stated that he had urged his friends in the Ukrainian government to "spare the Church, spare my Christian brothers and sisters."

"I have a metropolitan dying in jail on bogus charges" (apparently referring to Metropolitan Arseniy of Sviatohirsk – Ed.). "Our hearts break when we speak to his family. The same thing with Metropolitan Theodosiy. Why are these needless illegal charges being laid against members of the Church? Why have 1,500 churches been stolen from the UOC and given to this new state church? A state church that has icons of Maidan. A state church funded with monies from the United States of America?" Amsterdam asked the audience.

"As far as I am concerned, Ukraine must end Bill 3894 and come to the world of democracy and human rights, which our government and other governments have been supporting with their blood and but with our funds. Attacking a Christian religion is illegal. If you believe someone is a security risk, charge them with treason. And let me tell you something about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – it is recognized by other NATO countries. Their Orthodox Churches recognize our Church," Robert Amsterdam concluded.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Robert Amsterdam, UOC believers are being scapegoated by the Ukrainian authorities.

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