Filaret seeks help from the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine
Filaret requests to "provide practical assistance to the state authorities" in Ukraine, which "have difficulties" in ensuring the rights of the UOC-KP believers.
“Patriarch” Filaret Denisenko turned to the Office of the Council of Europe in Ukraine with a request to assist the Ukrainian state authorities in renewing the registration of the UOC-KP. The text of the petition dated October 20, 2020, was published on the website of the liquidated religious organization.
“The religious association of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate kindly requests you to assist the state authorities of Ukraine, in particular, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine in implementing the decision of the Local Council of the UOC KP dated June 20, 2019 (the founder of the UOC-KP) regarding the continuation of the activities of the UOC-KP,” the petition says.
Stressing that the main duty of Ukraine as a democratic state governed by the rule of law is comprehensive affirmation and provision of constitutional rights and freedoms, including the right to freedom of religion and belief, Filaret noted that “state authorities have difficulties in the performance of duties in relation to the UOC-KP."
“This determines the legal status of a large religious organization, in which false information about the state of the Kyiv Patriarchate from the USR interferes with its religious activities. Based on the above, I kindly request you to assist the state authorities in Ukraine to protect the rights of citizens of Ukraine who are part of the structure of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate,” the petition summarizes.
We will remind, in August, "patriarch" Filaret appealed to US President Donald Trump for support.
