Yelensky assures SBU of a high level of freedom of faith in Ukraine

Viktor Yelensky at the SBU Academy. Photo: dess.gov.ua

On April 26, at the National Academy of the Security Service of Ukraine, Viktor Yelensky, the head of the State Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience Service of Ukraine (DESS), spoke to cadets and instructors about the high level of religious freedom in Ukraine.

In his speech, Viktor Yelensky mentioned the "inseparable connection between religion, politics, and security."

He informed future SBU officers about the risks of underestimating the religious factor and analyzed the religious component of conflicts in Vietnam, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Yugoslavia, noting that even the most powerful states sometimes underestimate the influence of faith on the decisions of the masses.

"Religion influences global politics and the security situation in a complex and not always rational way. But its significance cannot be ignored, as behind religious movements often lie the expectations and aspirations of a large number of people. After all, people do or do not do something because they believe in something or do not believe," concluded Viktor Yelensky.

The head of the State Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience Service paid special attention to the Ukrainian context. He elaborated on the historical and contemporary role of religion in Ukraine's international relations, as well as on the long-standing attempts by the Russian Federation to use the religious factor to undermine Ukrainian statehood, national identity, culture, and language.

At the same time, Yelensky noted that even in wartime, Ukraine demonstrates a high level of religious freedom, which, according to him, is confirmed by international research data.

Moreover, the head of DESS outlined the main directions of state policy in the field of freedom of conscience and spoke about measures to prevent the abuse of religion by the Russian Federation.

In turn, the rector of the National Academy of the SBU, Andriy Cherniak, highlighted that "the religious factor plays a key role in ensuring national security, and it is extremely important for future SBU officers to understand how religion influences the internal stability of the state and its foreign policy course."

Earlier, the UOJ reported that according to American lawyer Bob Amsterdam, Viktor Yelensky is the person responsible for the destruction of the UOC.

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