OCU "bishop" with RF passport urges Rada to protect Ukrainians' rights in Crimea

Clement Kushch. Photo: zmina.info

The Crimean Eparchy of the OCU has supported a draft resolution of the Verkhovna Rada to establish August 28 as the Day for the Protection of the Rights of the Ukrainian Community of Crimea. "Metropolitan" Celement (Kushch) of Simferopol and Crimea urged MPs to support the initiative, stating that Ukrainians of the peninsula should be active participants in its future de-occupation and reintegration, reports "Holos Krymu" ("Crimea's Voice").

The eparchy stated that following the Russian occupation of Crimea, Ukrainians have faced Russification, the displacement of the Ukrainian language and culture, as well as pressure on Ukrainian civic and religious organizations. In the view of the statement's authors, the protection of the Ukrainian identity of the peninsula is a matter not only of culture but also of Ukraine's national security.

Meanwhile, Clement Kushch himself had previously confirmed that he holds a Russian passport. In an interview, he explained that the document is necessary for him to preserve personal and church property in Crimea. At the same time, the OCU "metropolitan" accused those who raise this issue of working for the FSB.

Now the head of the OCU's Crimean Eparchy is calling on the Ukrainian parliament to protect the rights of Ukrainians in Crimea and preserve their national identity. "The rights of the Ukrainian community of Crimea must be protected. The Ukrainian national identity of Crimea must be preserved," stated Clement Kushch.

As the UOJ previously reported, the OCU "metropolitan" holding a Russian passport had spoken out in support of the law banning the UOC.

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