Zelensky claims that KGB is in control of UOC

Zelensky and Metropolitan Onuphry in 2019. Photo: UOC's Press Service

In an interview with American journalist Ben Shapiro, filmed near the walls of Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) is controlled by the KGB, while also asserting that the Ukrainian government is not closing any churches.

Responding to the journalist's remark that there have been accusations in the West of Ukrainian authorities "persecuting religious freedom, particularly in relation to the Russian Orthodox Church," Zelensky stated that "the issue is not with the Moscow Church itself, but with the fact that in Russia, the Moscow Patriarchate is essentially another agency of the intelligence services."

“The problem began when their [Russian – Ed.] intelligence services started controlling churches in Ukraine. It is wrong for a church to be under such control, and Moscow should not be controlling our church. Their KGB, their intelligence agencies must not control or operate within the Ukrainian Church – they simply should not be here,” Zelensky said.

However, he did not present any facts or evidence proving that there are any such connections or, let alone, any form of "control" between the UOC and Russian intelligence.

According to him, “legislative changes in Ukraine are tied to the idea that there can be no connection between Moscow and the Ukrainian Church.”

“No one has closed anything, but we cannot allow Russian intelligence agencies to control a Church in Ukraine. Everyone opposes such legal ties. This is not only about intelligence-level connections, but also legal ties that have existed for many years. This must not continue,” Zelensky added – without clarifying what exactly he meant by "intelligence-level" or "legal ties."

The President also said he regularly meets with the UCCRO (All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations), assuring that representatives of all denominations are invited: “We always invite everyone – it’s important.” However, at the most recent meetings between the UCCRO and Zelensky, representatives of the UOC were notably absent.

“As for the alleged pressure on religious organizations – there is simply none. You won’t find any evidence of such pressure, because we do not conduct any backroom negotiations with religious institutions or their leaders,” Zelensky assured.

It will be reminded that earlier in the U.S., Zelensky stated he was doing everything possible to protect religious freedom.

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