UN Secretary-General Spokesman comments on UOC persecution in Ukraine

Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General. Photo: news.un.org

On May 19, 2025, during the regular briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, journalists raised the issue of the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by the country's authorities, reports press.un.org.

The Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General was specifically asked when the UN and its institutions would address this issue, as well as the attempts by European countries to intervene in the work of religious organizations.

In his response, Stéphane Dujarric emphasized that he cannot speak for European institutions. "I can’t speak for the European institutions.  What I can tell you is that we firmly believe in everyone’s right to worship and for religious organizations, to exist and work freely," he said.

As reported by the UOJ, earlier the US Commission on International Religious Freedom commented on the situation in Ukraine.

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