The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has become the target of a new bill passed by the Ukrainian parliament, which aims to ban Moscow-linked religious groups. The bill, approved by the Verkhovna Rada on Tuesday, prohibits activities of religious groups that are tied to the Russian Orthodox Church or support Russia’s invasion into Ukraine. The bill characterizes the Russian Orthodox Church as an accomplice to war crimes and crimes against humanity, labeling it as an extension of the regime of the aggressor state.
All eyes are now on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which has historically been linked to the Russian church. While Bishop Metropolitan Klyment of the UOC insists on the church’s independence from Moscow, the Ukrainian government claims the UOC remains tied to the Russian church. The government has conducted searches of UOC sites, finding evidence such as Russian passports and pro-Russian leaflets.
The bill has been criticized by the UOC as well as legal experts, who view it as a grotesque violation of religious freedom. The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is expected to sign the bill, emphasizing the importance of guaranteeing Ukrainian spiritual independence. The Bishop of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) also supports the new law, given the stance of the Moscow-based patriach in support of the Russian invasion into Ukraine. Ultimately, the bill reflects Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to distance itself from Russian influence and assert its own religious and national identity.
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