OCU cleric: UOC hard to ban as there is no evidence of ties to Moscow

OCU cleric Usmedynskyi (left). Photo: screenshot from the Neseriozna Rozmova program

OCU “priest” Ruslan Usmedynskyi acknowledged that the state has no tangible evidence linking UOC communities to Russia and suggested banning the Church without such evidence – with “just a ban.”

He made the remarks on Ukrainian stand-up comedian Dmytro Tiutiun’s program Neseriozna Rozmova.

“If we want to make accusations against a particular parish or church, we have to address each parish separately and produce tangible, real evidence that they are cooperating with Russia,” Usmedynskyi said.

At the same time, he said it was impossible to find such evidence.

“Obviously, there should simply be a ban. We have a ban on all religious organizations that cooperate with Russia. But how are you going to prove it when they just sit there and pray for Kirill? There is simply no tangible evidence whatsoever,” he said.

Usmedynskyi complained to the comedian that “it doesn’t work as simply as it seems.”

To implement a ban on the UOC, he called for “creating a separate body whose decision would be final, like a verdict: ‘That’s it, you’re shutting down, goodbye’ – with no discussion.”

In a rapid-fire round, the host also asked him to choose between “banning the UOC-MP in Ukraine” and “banning the UOC-MP and giving everyone a smack on the back of the head.” The OCU cleric chose the second option.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Usmedynskyi, premarital sex is not a sin.

Read also