MP: A big scandal is erupting worldwide over UOC persecution

The authorities' persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – in particular, the Verkhovna Rada's consideration of a bill aimed at banning the UOC – has caused a scandal in the international community, and it can seriously damage Kyiv's relations with its allies in Europe and America, writes MP Artem Dmytruk on his Telegram channel.

"Elon Musk reacted very sharply to the information about the arrests of priests and the ban of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, you can see from his publication that he is shocked by such events," said the MP. “American jurist Bob Amsterdam also warned of criminal liability. At the same time, it should be understood that this is only the beginning of a big scandal that is erupting against the background of the suspension of aid from our foreign allies. Whatever arguments the ideologists of banning the Church where millions of Ukrainians pray, these explanations look poor against the background of violation of human rights and freedoms".

According to the MP, "banning religious organisations is both a split in society within the country and a disgrace in front of the international community."

"Our shortsighted officials in the fight against temples have forgotten that we are not alone in the world, and if it is possible to take to the police a woman with uncomfortable questions who came to defend her right to faith, then American and European politicians cannot be shut down like that. They want to hear what is happening in Ukraine. Since when have norms of collective responsibility appeared in Ukrainian legislation? Why is the whole Church responsible for single cases of lawbreaking by ministers of the Church, but other departments and organisations are not responsible? The civilised world does not like this. It rightly demands that a country should respect international rules not only at foreign conferences and in speeches from tribunes, but also fulfil its domestic obligations to its citizens and to the whole world. Especially since they are written in the Constitution of Ukraine," the MP wrote.

He stressed that Ukraine today needs the support of allies, and "it is criminal at such a moment in front of the eyes of the whole world to split its people on religious, language and any other grounds".

"The Ukrainian government must return to the legal framework and stop persecuting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. It can still be stopped without consequences for society. For now, it is possible...," Artem Dmytruk added.

As reported, the video of the interview of journalist Tucker Carlson with the American lawyer of the UOC Bob Amsterdam on the social network X for two days was watched by more than 47 million people. The video was reposted by American businessman Elon Musk on his page. A huge number of network users supported Carlson with Amsterdam and criticised Volodymyr Zelensky.