Which articles of the Constitution should we cross out?

A copy of the “improved” Constitution. Photo: Sens Instagram

Ukraine is celebrating Constitution Day. To mark the occasion, the “Sens” bookstore chain has come up with a truly “brilliant” idea: they’re giving away copies of the Constitution with Article 10 crossed out – the one that protects the Russian language.

“Without a doubt, the Constitution of Ukraine is the fundamental law, a symbol of unity and independence. But we must acknowledge that some of its articles need to be revised and updated,” they write in “Sens.”

Some people might call this stunt discriminatory. But let’s be honest – they’re simply telling the truth as they see it: certain constitutional guarantees no longer fit the new Ukrainian reality. And that’s not just about language.

Let’s take a look at Article 35: “Everyone has the right to freedom of religion. This right includes the freedom to profess any religion, to freely perform religious rites and ceremonies alone or in community, and to conduct religious activities.”

Do believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church still enjoy that freedom? Can they freely practice their faith? Hardly everywhere. And if things keep going this way, the state will soon rip that freedom away entirely.

Read further: “The Church and religious organizations in Ukraine are separated from the state.” Really? Isn’t the government actively banning the UOC? Doesn’t it expel its communities from churches to hand them over to the OCU? Doesn’t it pressure other Local Churches to recognize its favorite? Doesn’t it treat the OCU as a state “attribute”? The answer is plain: yes.

So here’s our proposal to “Sens”: improve your initiative! Don’t stop at crossing out Article 10 – strike out Article 35 as well. The President will surely approve. After all, his famous “pause” on religious persecution has become a punchline already.

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