The Moscow Orthodox Church leadership denounces the proposed church prohibition in Ukraine as unlawful.
The Russian Orthodox Church has denounced the enactment of a law by the Ukrainian parliament that prohibits the Ukraine-affiliated Ukrainian Orthodox Church, with strong ties to Russia. According to Vladimir Legoida, the church's spokesperson, voicing his sentiments via Telegram, "this action is unlawful and represents a massive violation of the fundamental principles of religious freedom and human rights." He further warned that enforcing this regulation could result in widespread violence affecting countless believers.
Patriarch Kirill, the Russian Orthodox Church's leader, also expressed his concerns during a visit to the Solovetsky Monastery in northern Russia, stating, "we are experiencing challenging times as numerous individuals oppose us not because we are inherently evil, but merely because we are distinct."
Previously, deputies in Kiev approved a bill aimed at prohibiting religious organizations linked to Moscow. For the bill to become law, President Volodymyr Zelensky needs to sign it.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which maintains close relations with the Moscow Patriarchate, declared its independence from Moscow after the initiation of the Russian military operations in 2022. Critics, however, allegedly accuse the church's hierarchy of continuing to collaborate with Russian clergy and remaining reliant on Russia. Russia, on the other hand, has the backing of the Orthodox Church for the Kremlin and its operations in Ukraine.
The Russian Orthodox Church firmly condemns the Ukrainian parliament's 'Church ban', viewing it as an unjust infringement on religious freedom and human rights. The implementation of this law could potentially escalate into widespread violence, endangering numerous believers.