“This bill splits our society,” - MP Dmytruk on the ban of the UOC

Ukrainian MP Artyom Dmytruk has commented on the scandalous draft law No 8371 aimed at banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The MP is convinced that the purpose of this law is to split the Ukrainian society on religious beliefs. About this he told in an interview with the publication “Telegraf”.

“A bill has appeared, which simply splits our society, infringes on the rights of a large number of citizens of Ukraine (which is currently about six million who are parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church). These are the people who today serve at the front, live in our country, defend rights and freedoms, protect our country. And when this bill appeared, my position did not change, and I began to speak out categorically against it,” — Dmytruk said.

The MP added that the main inspirer and beneficiary of the bill No. 8371 is former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Dmytruk considers the actions of the head of the European Solidarity party as a betrayal of Ukraine, because during the war there are a lot of important issues for consideration in Parliament, which are blocked by deputies of this political force.

“If we look at the latest situation in Parliament (on July 23, opposition MPs blocked the Verkhovna Rada tribune, demanding a vote for the bill to ban the UOC, — Ed. ), I consider it a betrayal, a crime against statehood, against the people of Ukraine, which Petro Poroshenko and his team of supporters did. What did they do? During the war, when it is extremely necessary to gather and solve urgent issues, Petro Poroshenko comes to the podium, shows his egoistic position and blocks the parliament, completely blocks the work of the Verkhovna Rada and says that we are here for a month. Is this not a crime? It is a crime against the state and the people of Ukraine to block the work of the Verkhovna Rada just to promote their religious organization,” — Dmytruk added.

We will remind, earlier the head of the international human rights company “Amsterdam & Partners LLP” Robert Amsterdam, representing the legal interests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church called to take under investigation the head of the party “European Solidarity” Petro Poroshenko. The human rights defender is convinced that the former president is committing treason by calling to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.