Law Dept: Selective prohibition of religious processions is discriminatory
The Legal Department of the UOC noted that in 2023, believers of the UGCC conducted more than 12 processions, while local authorities prohibit cross processions of UOC parishioners.
The approach of authorities towards all religions should be equal and not involve actions that imply advantages for any particular religious organisation, reports the UOC press service.
They emphasized that all religions in Ukraine are equal before the law, and establishing advantages for one denomination over others is unacceptable.
According to the Legal Department, such actions indicate a discriminatory attitude of authorities towards the UOC's religious practices.
"Based on the requirements of the law, the approach to all religious organisations and citizens professing a certain religion should be equal and not involve actions that could be identified as preferential treatment of a specific religious organisation," stated the UOC.
The Legal Department also called on Ukrainian authorities to stop violating the constitutional norms regarding believers and to give citizens the right to peacefully perform religious services in the form of a procession.
As reported, the Legal Department of the UOC stated cross processions can only be banned through legal proceedings.
