UOC Legal Department: Cross procession can be banned only in court
The Legal Department of the UOC has stated that the government have no authority to ban religious processions, and such a ban can only be enacted through legal proceedings.
The Legal Department noted that the prohibition of cross processions through legal proceedings is regulated by a decision of the Constitutional Court, which stipulates that the right to freedom of religion is exercised individually or collectively, in private or public places.
Additionally, Article 39, Part 1 of the Constitution of Ukraine provides for the right of citizens to hold peaceful assemblies, marches, or demonstrations.
The UOC also stressed that a cross procession is a religious service performed according to strict church rules, and the primary activity during a cross procession is prayer.
"Cross processions have never been seen as displays of strength or political actions. It has always been a religious service during which participants needed to not only pray to God with their minds but also reinforce their prayers with physical labour – sometimes through a quite lengthy march," the Legal Department stated.
"No law prohibits holding divine services in the form of a procession. However, the law does establish a prohibition on anyone interfering with such a religious service and making decisions to prohibit the performance of religious services/rituals," the UOC added.
As reported, the Ternopil Regional Council banned the movement of the UOC's cross procession in the region.
