Yelensky tells head of US Helsinki Commission about anti-church law

Meeting of Viktor Yelensky with Kyle Parker. Photo: DESS

On May 30, 2025, a meeting took place in Kyiv between Viktor Yelensky, Chairman of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, and Kyle Parker, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Helsinki Commission. This was reported by the agency’s press service.

According to DESS, the meeting participants discussed processes in the religious sphere, state-church relations, and legislative initiatives "aimed at ensuring the right to a dignified expression of religious feelings". Obviously, this referred to the law that actually bans the UOC.

It was noted that both parties paid special attention to the religious situation in the temporarily uncontrolled territories. In particular, they addressed "persecutions, repression, and restrictions on the activities of believers".

Earlier, the UOJ reported that from May 20, the State Service will begin an inspection of the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC for ties with Russia. Yelensky stated that he already considers the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC to be affiliated with the ROC.

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