Lawyers establish a charitable foundation for legal protection of UOC clergy

Archpriest Nikita Chekman. Photo: a screenshot from the UOC lawyer's video

UOC lawyer Archpriest Nikita Chekman and his team have established the charitable foundation "Freedom of Conscience", aimed at providing qualified legal assistance to clergy and religious organizations of the UOC who lack the funds to pay for lawyers. The archpriest announced this on his Telegram channel.

According to the lawyer, the team's workload has significantly increased during the period of defending the Church. The attorneys are currently handling more than 70 active court cases involving the protection of religious communities and clergy. In addition, the hotline opened by the lawyers has received more than 270 inquiries regarding the mobilization and military service of clergy.

Nikita Chekman emphasized that in many cases the clergy and communities are unable to independently pay for the services of lawyers engaged from the regions. "It is for this purpose that the charitable foundation was established," the lawyer explained. "When funds are available, the foundation will pay for the work of lawyers engaged to provide legal assistance in a specific case, in the interests of a clergyman or religious organization."

In addition to covering legal fees, the foundation's objectives include raising the legal literacy of believers and holding educational events on the protection of human rights and freedom of religion. The human rights advocate called on supporters to back the initiative with donations and prayer: "With God's help, we will all together defend the rights of our faithful and clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. And with God's help, our team of lawyers will be strengthened by qualified specialists."

Previously, the UOJ reported that a court ordered police to open a case regarding pressure on a UOC lawyer.

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