Amsterdam: Secret police is an instrument of power to destroy the Church
An American lawyer criticized the Hudson Institute event, which aimed to justify the actions of Ukrainian authorities against the UOC.
Robert Amsterdam, the lawyer for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), accused the Ukrainian authorities of attempting to destroy the Church using the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). In a video posted on the social media platform X, he stated that the SBU and police are being used as tools of pressure on UOC clergy.
"The situation for many priests in Ukraine is dire. The police and secret police have been used as an instrument of power for the Zelensky regime to essentially destroy the Church and establish a new state church that is patriotic and that is not an independent center of political thought," Amsterdam stated.
The lawyer also noted that the actions of the Ukrainian authorities have sparked international outrage. He highlighted the position of the Pope, who has denounced Ukraine’s actions against UOC believers.
Amsterdam also criticized the Hudson Institute event titled "Religion in the Crossfire Between Russia and Ukraine". In his view, the participants of the discussion, featuring speakers Nina Shea, Oleksandr Aliksiichuk, Dr. Maksym Vasin, Lauren Homer, Pavlo Unguryan, Dmitry Bodyu, and Dr. Katharyn Hanson, and others, do not represent the views of the UOC, the largest religious denomination in Ukraine, which has suffered the greatest number of destroyed churches since the war began.
"Furthermore, the panel appears to be designed to feature known voices who are in favor of the controversial religious cleansing law against the UOC, which has been denounced not only by Pope Francis and also by the World Council of Churches, among others," Amsterdam stated.
The UOC lawyer also sent an open letter to Hudson Institute President John K. Walters, condemning the event and stressing the need for a more balanced approach to religious freedom in Ukraine. He claimed that the Ukrainian government is using laws and security forces to persecute the UOC, noting that the new law effectively bans UOC's religious practices.
"This attack on religious freedom violates both the domestic constitution of Ukraine and the international covenants to which it is bound. Ukraine has now passed legislation that will ban the religious practices of the UOC," the letter states.
Amsterdam urged the Hudson Institute to reconsider the format of the event and "allow for other panelists who can fairly represent the UOC to participate".
In conclusion, the lawyer called on Americans to pay attention to the situation regarding religious freedom in Ukraine: "And I denounce the Hudson Institute for doing this and suggest that all Americans take a look at exactly what is going on in Ukraine with respect to freedom of religion."
As the UOJ reported, on September 18, 2024, officers of the Security Service of Ukraine arrived with searches at the Vvedensky Monastery in Kyiv.
