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The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Ukraine condemns the eviction of the community of the
Orthodox Church of Ukraine from the Cathedral of the Holy Apostolic
Princes Volodymyr and Olga in Simferopol.
This decision of the occupation
authorities reflects the policy of systemic oppression of the Ukrainian
orthodox community in temporarily occupied Crimea. Only a week ago, the
Russian occupation administration handed over to Archbishop Klyment an
order on the demolition of the temple in Yevpatoria. In the course of
the last year, the occupation administration detained Archbishop Klyment
himself without justification in March, refused to register the local
religious organization following his application in April, and
terminated the lease of the premises of the acting cathedral in June. In
July 2019, all the church utensils of the diocesan administration were
stolen from this cathedral under the guise of building renovation.
Oppression of the Ukrainian Orthodox
community in Crimea aims at erasing the Ukrainian identity on the
temporarily occupied territories and is a part of the policy of
oppression of all religious communities in Crimea uncontrolled by
Moscow.
The largest-scaled oppressions are
unfolded against the Crimean Muslims. According to human rights
defenders, 71 Crimean of Muslim confession are behind bars under the
fabricated charges.
Contrary to the norms of international
humanitarian law, the Russian Federation extended the application of its
legislation to Ukrainian Crimea thus outlawing about 8000 followers of
the Jehovah's Witnesses. The occupation administration imprisoned two
members of this community for their religious beliefs.
The Russian occupation administration in
Crimea abuses the anti-extremist legislation and uses the
administrative legislation to the effect of oppressing the religious
communities. Administrative pressure is being exercised not only against
the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. This year, the fines for missionary
activities were issued to the rabbi of the Jewish Messianic community
and imam of the Alushta Muslim community. Overall, since the beginning
of the occupation, the human rights defenders have documented 91
administrative cases against religious organizations and their members
in Crimea, resulting in 73 administrative fines for a total amount
exceeding 1 mln rubles.
Only orthodox churches controlled by Moscow patriarch enjoy freedom from obstacles to their religious activities.
We call on Russian Federation as an
occupying power to abide by the norms of international law, including
the international humanitarian law, and to stop the oppression of the
Orthodox Church of Ukraine and other religious communities in Crimea.
