Vadym Novinsky stated that there is no freedom of religion in Ukraine

Vadym Novinsky, a protodeacon of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and former member of parliament, harshly criticized the government’s policy toward the UOC, calling claims that there is freedom of religion in Ukraine “an absolute lie.” Novinsky made his statement in an interview with the Swiss publication Die Weltwoche.

During a conversation with the publication’s editor-in-chief, Roger Keppel, Novinsky emphasized that the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church is subject to systematic persecution. According to him, the legislation passed, aimed at potentially banning the activities of the UOC, is discriminatory in nature, while state support is provided exclusively to the OCU, which he described as “an organization controlled by the state.”

The interview also focused on the issue of the mobilization of clergy. The protodeacon stated that clergy of the UOC are being forcibly conscripted into the armed forces despite their sacred office, which, in his opinion, contradicts church canons and constitutes an act of “genocide.” Novinsky placed direct responsibility for these events on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of violating his 2019 campaign promises regarding the state’s non-interference in church affairs.

As a reminder, we previously reported that Volodymyr Zelenskyy attempted to defend himself to the American media against accusations of persecuting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.