Attacks on Cross procession demonstrate uncivilized politicians, – expert

"People judging the Cross procession, above all, demonstrate their extremely low level of legal culture," – so described the attempts to discredit the religious procession the executive director of the Ukrainian Institute of Policy Analysis and Management Ruslan Bortnik.

"On the one hand, we see how an extremely negative attitude to the All-Ukrainian Cross procession is generated in the information field now, – says the analyst. – Clearly apparent are attempts to discredit the Cross procession, using public opinion, which, again, is formed in social networks. On the other hand, the part of the people who take part in the campaign to discredit the procession shows a very low legal culture and lack of culture in general. They demonstrate their "incivility" - this is the exact definition. After all, these people, who are ardent opponents of the peaceful religious initiatives, position themselves as supporters of European values: a European, democratic course for Ukraine. In doing so, they brazenly and cynically violate one of the main tenets of the European system – infringe on the right to freedom of conscience and freedom of speech; the right not to interfere in the affairs of the Church. "

Ruslan Bortnik believes that such behaviour was "appropriate" a century ago. And today it only shows how the declared European values ​​are far from what is actually happening in Ukraine.      

"If you look at some of the most zealous commentators, you will see that such "thoughts and appeals" were heard in the XV-XVI centuries, when there was a religious war in Ukraine. That is, we are now witnessing the absolute discrepancy between the proclaimed European ideals and a real mindset of these people. These two components determine the current information field, – the expert believes. – The Church appears poorly protected in the information field. The UOC faithful do not have effective mechanisms to speak out their opinion to the masses of Ukrainians. Today, they are in a very difficult situation of massive defamation without an opportunity to express an alternative opinion."       

Talking about how the officials should act in such circumstances, the political scientist noted that the main thing is to follow the letter of the law.       

"On the one hand, the government shouldn’t at least in any way comment on what is happening. State officials shouldn’t even give a hint about their attitude, negative or positive, towards the Cross procession. In Ukraine, the State and the Church are separated. And government officials have no right to express their personal opinion and attitude towards the Church events, – says Ruslan Bortnik. – This is a violation of the law, and for that officials in the same West immediately lose high state positions. The statement recently made by Parubiy (that the Cross procession is organized by the Kremlin, – Ed.) would have cost him his political career in Germany or France. Nobody would shake hands with him in society. On the other hand, the government should provide adequate protection of the Cross procession. At least at that level that was guaranteed and provided to the LGBT march. Thirdly, the media should cease to disseminate fakes: all these photo- shopped pictures and other provocative "stuff" of the alleged militants heading for Kiev. Here, perhaps, the Church itself should start going to court on defamation charges. I would like to note that the objective media should always present the position of the two sides, and in the same timing. This is called European democratic standards. In the meantime, we can observe the Ukrainian savagery, which is fed by pseudo-patriotism."

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