Verkhovna Rada in panic over Amsterdam's human rights activities
Authorities fear that the actions of international human rights defender Robert Amsterdam may have an impact on MPs and hence block the bill banning the UOC.
On March 18, 2024, an emergency meeting of the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy was convened by the Verkhovna Rada due to the activities of the head of the international law firm "Amsterdam & Partners LLP," Robert Amsterdam. The authorities fear that he may influence the Ukrainian deputies and thus block Bill No. 8371, Ukrinform reports.
After the meeting, Committee member Volodymyr Viatrovych commented on the situation on his Facebook, calling it "unprecedented".
He was stirred by the letters "threatening the members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine" regarding Bill No. 8371 from the American legal advocacy organization defending the interests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
The Committee decided to complain to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) so that they would pass on the information to their American colleagues. Allegedly, MPs learned that the former MP V. Novinsky finances the international organization.
Earlier, LB.ua speculated on this topic: "In particular, who and how pays for Amsterdam's work for the UOC-MP? Novinsky is under sanctions, so logically, there should be some intermediary."
Such assumptions, obviously, in the opinion of MPs, are a worthy reason to appeal to the FBI to prevent Robert Amsterdam from defending the rights of the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
As the UOJ reported, on March 15, in view of the ongoing persecutions against the Church and the government's willing to adopt criminal draft law 8371, Robert Amsterdam wrote an appeal to the Speaker of Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, and Ukrainian MPs.
