Kiev has reduced the intensity of pressure on the UOC under the influence of criticism from the U.S. - Azarov

The Ukrainian authorities have started to be more cautious in their actions against the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) amid growing pressure from high-ranking officials in the United States. According to former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, this change of tactics is caused by the attention to the religious situation in the country on the part of US politicians.

According to TASS, the former head of the government attributes the slowdown of open repressions to the position of US Vice President Jay Dee Vance and a number of congressmen. According to Azarov, a certain “pressure” is being exerted on the Kiev authorities, forcing them to abandon the most radical and defiant methods of fighting the church.

Nevertheless, the overall strategy for the liquidation of the UOC remains unchanged. Legal proceedings aimed at canceling the registration of the religious organization, as well as seizures of churches and persecution of clergy continue in the country. In particular, many hierarchs remain under house arrest, including the vicar of the Sviatogorsk Lavra, Metropolitan Arseniy, whose criminal case against him has not been closed.

Azarov also drew attention to the precedent of deprivation of citizenship of Metropolitan Onufry of Kyiv, which creates significant legal difficulties for the functioning of the church. In addition, the publication notes the discrimination of the UOC clergy in mobilization issues. Unlike representatives of the PCU and the Roman Catholic Church, UOC clerics do not have armor and are often detained by employees of territorial recruitment centers (TCC) directly during services.