"Despite the fact that the bill does not explicitly ban the UOC-MP, everyone understands perfectly well what we are talking about," - Deputy Venislavskyi

Ukrainian MP and official representative of the President in the Parliament Fedir Venislavsky denied his colleagues’ claims that the scandalous draft law No. 8371 is not aimed at banning the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The MP claims that although the draft law does not directly refer to the UOC, the parliament is well aware that it is aimed specifically against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Venislavsky said this in a commentary to the Obozrevatel publication.

“Despite the fact that the bill does not directly prohibit the UOC-MP, but only those religious organizations whose control center is located in the aggressor country, everyone understands perfectly well what it is about. The bill itself is good, adequate. It fully complies with the Constitution of Ukraine and meets all international standards in the field of freedom of conscience,” – Venislavsky said.

Earlier, the head of the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, Nikita Poturaev, said that Bill No. 8371 is not directed against the UOC but is intended to ban the Russian Orthodox Church.