Insider: Rada can pass a bill on banning UOC in the coming days

Within a week, the Verkhovna Rada will adopt in the first reading bill No 8371, which provides for the ban of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, a source in the Rada told the UOJ.

According to him, the vote may take place as early as Thursday, 27 July.

It is noted that the bill will be put before parliament only if the authorities are sure of the votes.

"It might be the case that they will put it on the agenda for Thursday's session on Wednesday, but on Thursday, even when the session has already started, they could remove it. It will all depend on how many votes they gather. If they realize that they have a 100% majority, as it was with the marijuana law, then, of course, they will introduce it. But if there are doubts, they will withdraw the bill. For them (the authorities – Ed.) the lack of support for the bill in the parliament will mean failure," he said.

Bill No. 8371 "On Amending Certain Laws of Ukraine on the Activities of Religious Organisations in Ukraine" was registered in the Rada on 19 January 2023. The initiator of the bill is the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.

The UOC Law Department said then that bill No. 8371 contradicts the Constitution, the Rules for Drafting Laws, national legislation and international law.

As reported, the Verkhovna Rada said that the UOC could be banned only by a court ruling.