MP: UOC should become part of the OCU – that's the goal of bill 8371

MP from the European Solidarity party Mykola Kniazhytsky explained that bill No. 8371 is aimed at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church becoming part of the OCU. He said this on the air of the Espresso TV channel.

"My firm conviction is that we have one Orthodox Church, so they should become part of the OCU if they consider themselves Orthodox," said the MP, commenting on the situation around bill No. 8371 banning the UOC.

In his opinion, if the Ukrainian Orthodox Church refuses this, then "they are not Orthodox."

Kniazhytsky shared that, in his opinion, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church "had enough time to sever ties with Moscow, reregister," and also "prove that these ties are severed." Then, he said, "they can continue to operate in Ukraine as an independent church if these ties are indeed severed."

The MP added that after the ban on a certain confession, communities themselves will be able to choose where to move. Although, in his opinion, "this will undoubtedly benefit the OCU."

"And we must be interested in the OCU taking a worthy place in our state-building," he said.

Kniazhytsky suggested that the vote on bill No. 8371 in the second reading could be brought to the nearest session of the Verkhovna Rada, but it all depends on the pro-presidential party 'Servant of the People'.

"If the 'Servant of the People' faction wants to bring it to the hall, they can bring it to the nearest session, and we, as 'European Solidarity', insist on this, but it's hard for me to predict what their decision will be," he concluded.

As the UOJ reported, the UOC called on the UN to transfer bill 8371 to the Venice Commission.