After failing the competition, Yurash disseminates letters in his support

Andrei Yurash. Photo: censor.net.ua

On November 24, 2019, the candidate for the post of head of the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience Andrei Yurash published a letter of support addressed to the leadership of the state, stating that the decision of the selection panel was biased and the competition was disrupted.

A letter from Yurash following the results of the final stage of the competition for the post of head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, which no candidates admitted to it passed, is addressed to President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky, Prime Minister of Ukraine Alexei Goncharuk and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports of Ukraine Vladimir Borodiansky.

The document says: “A.V. Yurash was the best among all 18 applicants in all competencies without exception and at all competitive stages. All the more incomprehensible is the decision of the Competition Commission, which announced that the actual winner of the Competition did not score enough points and disrupted, in fact, the competition.”

“We are also convinced that the person who meets all the criteria and the enormous challenges that the country faces in the field of ethnopolitics and freedom of conscience is Andrei Yurash, whose objective achievements as director of the Department for Religions and Nationalities under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports are undeniable and really significant,” the letter says.

Everyone interested is encouraged to sign the letter.

In the commentary to the document that Yurash published on Facebook, he writes: “The competition was actually stopped in order to prevent me from going to the next stage.”

He states that he is convinced that “hundreds of people will join the process” in his support, and “knocking out” Yurash himself at the interview stage was a “completely manipulative maneuver” “since there was no reason or opportunity to ‘let this opponent lead’, it was decided to ‘fail’ both".

Among his merits that make him worthy of occupying the post of head of the state service, Yurash lists “an unprecedented level of cooperation at the international level, the preservation and improvement of religious rights and freedoms in society, the beginning of dozens of innovative initiatives in the field of ensuring the rights of national minorities, legislative changes,” and states that his appointment will lead to "the development of Ukraine as a tolerant, multi-dimensional and truly democratic, free from bureaucratic pressure at all levels" country.

As reported earlier, on November 21, 2019, in Kiev, the final stage of the competition for the post of head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience held in Kiev was not passed by any of the candidates shortlisted.

Read also

Synod of Ukrainian Orthodox Church сanonizes Blessed John Pokhodenchyk

In July of this year, the Commission on the Canonization of Saints reviewed materials regarding the glorification of the ascetic from the Kirovohrad region.

November 2 – International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists

Over six months ago, UOJ Orthodox journalists were arrested and placed in detention, facing life sentences for covering the religious situation in Ukraine.

Met. Longin’s lawyer: Judges wanted to ban video recording of the trial

After the judge decided to conduct the session 'in camera', Metropolitan Longin suffered a heart attack.  

Odesa UOC Eparchy: "We can no longer be silent; we will defend the Church"

The press service of the Odesa Eparchy commented on the statement regarding the ROC's actions toward dioceses in occupied territories.

OCU cathedral in Lutsk decorated with frescoes of businessmen

Due to criticism of this initiative, the images had to be redone.

Yelensky on UOC bishops’ statement: We expect an exit from the ROC, not talks

The DESS head suggested that the Primate did not support this statement, as he hadn't put his signature on it.