MP complains that it is difficult to expel the UOC from the churches and premises occupied by the Church

MP from the European Solidarity party Rostyslav Pavlenko complains that it is difficult to expel the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from occupied churches and other premises, as the Church is going to court, and local politicians are in no hurry to fulfill the illegal demands of the authorities in Kyiv. The deputy added that European Solidarity demands that regional authorities unilaterally terminate lease agreements for churches and land plots previously concluded with religious communities of the UOC. He said this in an interview with the Espresso channel.

«There is already a case regarding the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. I think the same will be true for the Pochayiv Lavra. There are also cases concerning several less significant churches. But this is a long process because they go to the courts. Even if the first instance is on the side of the state and forces them to leave, they file appeals, delaying the process. They pay lawyers generously. However, there is a second way. «European Solidarity requires local councils to make decisions to terminate lease agreements, life leases, etc. But here we face the defense of supporters of the Moscow Patriarchate. Not only «servants» but also all kinds of local parties say: «It’s a church, you have to be careful.» So we just have to keep pushing. We need to constantly monitor the situation and keep this issue under control. The only thing the authorities are afraid of is publicity. Publicity helps to move the situation forward. These are the ways to go. The adoption of this law will untie the hands of many local authorities who are now in doubt,» — the MP summarized.

Earlier we reported that the Ternopil City Council is planning to transfer the Cathedral of the Ternopil Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in honor of the martyrs Vira, Nadia, Liubov and Sophia to the OCU. The city council is going to consider the transfer of the church in the near future.