Yelensky: We believe UOC Kyiv Metropolia is affiliated with Russian Church

Viktor Yelensky. Photo: Ukrainska Pravda

In a comment to Left Bank, Viktor Yelensky, head of the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, expressed the position of his agency, according to which the Kyiv Metropolia of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) is allegedly affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC).

“Our agency has launched an investigation to determine whether there is affiliation with a religious organization banned in Ukraine – that is, with the ROC. The head of the Religious Affairs Department submitted an internal memorandum to me, stating that he has reason to believe that the UOC, represented by its center – the Kyiv Metropolia – is affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church. He provided justification for why he believes this is the case. Therefore, I issued an order to initiate an investigation into the presence or absence of affiliation between the Kyiv Metropolia and the banned church, i.e., the ROC,” said Yelensky.

According to him, DESS is guided by the criteria for affiliation with the ROC outlined in Bill No. 8371. If even one of the seven indicators is found – some of which are based on documents issued in the Russian Federation over which the UOC has no influence – the organization must be banned through a court decision.

“The goal is for the Kyiv Metropolia to cease to exist as a legal entity,” the DESS head declared.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that as of May 20, DESS had begun inspecting the Kyiv Metropolia of the UOC for connections with the Russian Federation.

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