Zelensky approves ban of religious orgs. promoting 'Russian interests'

• 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed an order authorizing the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) on restrictive measures against representatives of religious organizations allegedly connected with Russia to protect national security, the President’s office said on Friday.

"To put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated December 1, 2022 On Certain Aspects of the Activities of Religious Organizations in Ukraine and the Application of Special Personal Economic and Other Restrictive Measures (Sanctions)," the order read.

The list of sanctioned organizations has not been revealed yet, however, the document provides that the Ukrainian government will present a bill prohibiting religious organizations allegedly "affiliated with centers of influence in the Russian Federation."

According to the decree, the Security Service of Ukraine, police, and other law enforcement departments have been ordered to strengthen measures aimed at identification and counteraction of "undermining activity" allegedly conducted by the Russian secret service in the religious environment of Ukraine.

Oleksiy Honcharenko, a member of former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s party, European Solidarity, said his party had already submitted a draft bill on banning the Russian Orthodox Church and its affiliates in Ukraine.

Honcharenko explained that if the bill was adopted, all contracts on renting churches, cathedrals, and other monuments with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) of the Moscow Patriarchate would be canceled.

On its part, the UOC said it had always followed Ukrainian law, according to the Strana.ua online publication.

"The UOC has always carried out its activities in accordance with the Ukrainian legislation. Public reports on multiple inspections of its temples and monasteries confirm the absence of prerequisites for accusations relating to the national security," a UOC representative said.

On December 1, Zelensky announced that "spiritual independence" would be guaranteed and all religious organizations affiliated with Russia would be banned in order to strip them of opportunities "to manipulate Ukrainians and weaken Ukraine from within."

In recent months, the Ukrainian authorities have increased pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Radical nationalist groups have been seizing temples and attacking clergy and parishioners of the UOC. On November 29, the Lvov region of Ukraine prohibited the UOC.

Read more: Zelensky wails Ukraine needs to 'Israel'