An American human rights organization filed a complaint over the awarding of the "Beacon of Hope" prize to Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The group “Concerned Greek Orthodox Christians of New Jersey” initiated a criminal complaint regarding the awarding of the “Beacon of Hope” prize to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on September 26, 2026. The award was presented by representatives of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, which sparked a wave of criticism among believers and human rights advocates. This was reported by the website Orthodox Reflections.

According to the source, the initiators of the complaint accuse church leadership and a number of government officials of supporting a regime that systematically violates religious freedoms. Mike Gianakos, a spokesperson for the organization, emphasized that this action runs counter to the interests of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). The complaint contains allegations of religious persecution, corruption, and human rights violations, supported by reports from UN experts who had previously warned that national security concerns cannot serve as a justification for banning religious organizations.

In an interview with Orthodox Reflections, Giannakos stated that the situation surrounding the UOC is part of a broader geopolitical process that began in 2014. He asserts that U.S. church and foreign policy activities were coordinated with the aim of promoting Ukraine’s “spiritual independence” and weakening the influence of other canonical structures. According to critics, the awarding of the medal to Zelenskyy is not a diplomatic gesture but an attempt to legitimize the actions of the Ukrainian authorities directed against the clergy and monasteries.

At this time, the allegations remain the position of the complainants and do not have the status of court rulings. In official statements by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the award is justified as recognition of Zelenskyy’s efforts to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty; however, representatives of the civil society organization are calling for an independent tribunal and more active lay involvement in the management of church affairs.

As a reminder, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has once again been included in the list of the most influential members of the Jewish people, ranking 21st in the annual list published by the Israeli newspaper *Jerusalem Post*.