Photo: osce.org
Russian Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Balakin accused Kiev of persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at the meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, the website of Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.
According to him, the position of UOC is constantly deteriorating in recent months. Ukrainian authorities put constant pressure on the church, guided by political motives. By promoting its project to create a new church structure, differing in national color, Kiev violates its international obligations, including ones within the OSCE. Its actions contradict Ukrainian legislation, which guarantees freedom of religion and non-interference of state in the internal affairs of the church.
At the same time, Kiev made every effort to eliminate the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church immediately after the appearance of the so-called new church.
Ukrainians were divided into "friend and foes", laying the foundations for the growth of the conflict on religious grounds. A large-scale campaign to discredit the UOC has been launched in the country, and the authorities, under their actions that have a pronounced discriminatory nature lay down the right base, passing new laws. At the end of last year, a new law on the renaming of church communities appeared. Virtually there is no secret that the law is aimed mainly against the UOC. In January, a new inventory document was published. It was necessary to take away temples, monasteries and other property from the church.
A wave of raider seizures of temples swept across the country; instances of vandalism became more frequent. Threats of physical violence are openly addressed to the parishioners and priests of the UOC. This situation is fraught with dire consequences up to the unleashing of a religious war.
Russian diplomat called on the OSCE and its core institutions to assess Kiev’s actions in order to prevent further infringement of the rights of Orthodox believers. He also demanded that the Ukrainian authorities stop religious persecution.
Russkiy Mir
