UN to monitor progress of investigation into Orthodox journalists’ cases
Journalistic activity is protected by international law, so all materials of criminal cases on the UOJ will be transferred to the UN and other human rights bodies.
President of the human rights organization NGO Public Advocacy, Oleg Denisov, who is currently participating in the regular session of the UN Human Rights Council, commented on the situation regarding the persecution of journalists from the UOJ. A video of his statement was published on the YouTube channel of his human rights organization.
The lawyer stated that, after preliminary examination of the investigation materials, he concluded that "these cases are based on the same set of allegations that are made against the UOC hierarchs Theodosiy, Longin, Pavel, and Jonathan."
In his opinion, these allegations primarily concern criticism directed at the clergy of the OCU, which the Ukrainian authorities erroneously consider as inciting religious enmity.
"I believe that the rhetoric used by the Union of Orthodox Journalists relates to freedom of speech and is protected by international law as free journalistic activity," emphasized Denisov.
According to the human rights defender, these criminal allegations are an attempt to pressure journalists and believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church ahead of the attempt to pass bill No. 8371 on the "ban of the UOC."
The head of the human rights organization stated that he would include these cases in his communications with the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of human rights defenders, as well as with UN mandate holders responsible for protecting the rights and freedoms of journalists.
"I will directly transmit and transmit all materials of criminal cases to these international bodies in order to prevent unjust verdicts against journalists, members of SPZH, and believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church," said Oleg Denisov.
As reported by the UOJ, UN human rights defenders were informed about the criminal prosecution of UOC hierarchs.
