Russia demands that EU and OSCE stop harassment of UOC by Ukrainian authorities

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov demanded that the European Union and the OSCE react to discrimination against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. He said this in his speech at the 26th International Christmas Educational Readings on January 24, reports "RIA Novosti Ukraine".

"Connivance to take over churches of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church and violence against its clergy and flock continue. There are continued efforts to limit the activities of this largest condession of Ukraine, to divide church communities," stressed the minister.

"We have demanded a reaction to all these illegal actions from the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and the UN, and demanded a concrete reaction from the European Union. We have yet to see reactions at the needed level," said Sergei Lavrov.

Earlier, the head of the Representative Office of the UOC at the European international organizations, Bishop Viktor of Baryshevka (Kotsaba) spoke about the difficult situation of the parishioners of the canonical Church in Ukraine at the OSCE meeting in Warsaw.