Amsterdam: Stripping UOC Primate of citizenship – Zelensky's act of repression
Robert Amsterdam. Photo: lb.ua
On July 8, 2025, international lawyer Robert Amsterdam, representing the interests of the UOC, published a press release condemning the actions of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in stripping the Primate of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry, of citizenship.
"This act by President Volodymyr Zelensky represents a grave violation of both national and international legal norms, and marks a dangerous turning point in the Ukrainian government's campaign against the UOC," the statement said.
The lawyer emphasized that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church completely denies the allegation that Metropolitan Onuphry holds Russian citizenship, or any citizenship other than Ukrainian. According to them, the SBU has not presented any evidence to support this claims.
Robert Amsterdam emphasizes: "Metropolitan Onuphry has honourably served the Ukrainian people as a spiritual leader and has never wavered in his commitment to Ukraine or its war effort against Russia. It is precisely because of this commitment that under his leadership, the UOC, which had already been self-governing since the breakup of the Soviet Union, severed all administrative ties to the Russian Orthodox Church."
"This latest action is part of an ongoing effort by the Ukrainian government to dismantle the UOC, using baseless allegations of ties to Russia in order to suppress any independent religious institutions and elevate the state-affiliated Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) as the sole Orthodox body in the country," noted lawyer Amsterdam.
The lawyer also pointed out that the revocation of Metropolitan Onuphry’s citizenship has now rendered him stateless, in clear violation of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. According to Amsterdam, this has become a hallmark of President Zelensky’s broader strategy for silencing political opposition.
Robert Amsterdam will be engaging at the highest levels with relevant stakeholders, including in the United States, Europe and international institutions to coordinate a firm and principled response.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that Zelensky stripped His Beatitude Onuphry of citizenship.
Read also
Ultra-Orthodox Jews paralyze traffic in Israel over arrest of draft evaders
Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators blocked highways and railway tracks, demanding an end to the arrest of those refusing military service.
Patronal feast celebrated at Kherson cathedral damaged by shelling
Because of damage caused by Russian shelling, the festal Liturgy on the Day of the Holy Spirit was celebrated for the first time in the lower church of the Kherson Eparchy’s cathedral.
Kremenchuk Eparchy comments on situation around Holy Trinity Cathedral
The UOC emphasized that any disputes regarding the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kremenchuk should be resolved exclusively within the legal framework.
4,000 faithful celebrate patronal feast of Holy Spirit Skete of Pochaiv Lavra
The celebration of the Day of the Holy Spirit brought together pilgrims from across Ukraine at the skete of Pochaiv Lavra.
OCU supporters prepare to seize UOC church in Kolonshchyna
In a village in Kyiv Region, OCU supporters held what parishioners describe as an unlawful meeting to “transfer” a UOC parish, despite the religious community having already reaffirmed its loyalty to its Church.
His Beatitude officiates at Liturgy in Kyiv on Day of the Holy Spirit
At the church complex dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” in Kyiv, the Primate of the UOC celebrated the festal Liturgy and offered prayers for peace in Ukraine.