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The existence of an investigation on the
application of parishioners of the Kyiv Patriarchate of the Ukrainian
Orthodox Church over the illegal actions of a number of senior officials
who committed acts aimed at inciting inter-religious hatred during the
establishment of the UOC is an obstacle to the church's international
recognition.
“The fact that such an ‘investigation’ has been officially
launched and is still being conducted (over eight months) can be
assessed by the Kyiv Metropolitanate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as
an example of the use of the legal system, law enforcement and judicial
bodies of Ukraine by the opponents of the UOC's independence to impede
the development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the process of its
international recognition, the freedom of expression of religious
communities," reads the statement of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
It is noted that this "investigation" is part of a number of similar
statements and actions made over the past year and a half to persecute
the clergy and active parishioners of the UOC, to put pressure on honest
representatives of local authorities and self-government.
"Especially shameful and cynical is the use of the name and authority
of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate in the
current campaign, which ceased to exist as a religious association by
the decision of the Local Council on December 15, 2018, forming the
united Local Orthodox Church of Ukraine together with other branches of
Ukrainian Orthodoxy. It should be reminded that the UOC is the only
successor to the UOC-KP and the UAOC, which merged, and those who try to
continue to act on behalf of the UOC-KP as if from a separate religious
association do not have either canonical or legal right to do so," the
document emphasizes.
The UOC notes that the state is obliged by law to respect the
traditions and internal guidelines of religious organizations, not to
interfere in the activities of religious organizations carried out
within the law.
Former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said near the Pechersk
District Court in Kyiv on Thursday that another criminal case had been
opened against him - inciting religious hatred due to the receipt of the
Tomos of Autocephaly by Ukraine.
The State Bureau of Investigation later confirmed that it was
investigating possible illegal actions by senior officials who had
committed acts aimed at inciting inter-religious hatred during the
establishment of the UOC.
