MP: We spent a long time explaining to the US why the UOC should be banned

Poturaev. Photo: sluga-narodu

The head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, Mykyta Poturaev, stated in an interview with Ukrinform that the Ukrainian side had to conduct lengthy consultations with American partners to explain the necessity of banning the UOC.

"Because freedom of conscience is one of the fundamental freedoms, and it is constantly under international monitoring," the MP explained.

"There is a special commission in the United States that monitors what is happening in all countries. And we were in communication with them because they had certain concerns. We spent a long time explaining why we are doing this, the reasons behind it, what the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) is, that it is actually not a Church, but an extension of the Russian state – essentially aggressive," Poturaev stated, without clarifying what this has to do with the UOC.

According to him, the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is not simple because "the European Union also monitors this, meaning these are serious, fundamental issues."

"And this law (on banning the UOC. – Ed.) not only does not restrict but guarantees the realization of certain rights and freedoms of religious organizations, without exception," Poturaev assured.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Poturaev, those who oppose the ban on the UOC threaten national security.

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