“The new exarchate of the Phanar in Ukraine is a finger-sucking lie” - MP Poturaev

Ukrainian MP and chairman of the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, Nikita Poturaev, said that he considers the scenario of creating a new religious structure on the territory of Ukraine under the auspices of the Patriarchate of Constantinople unrealistic. The MP believes that talk of this is being spread by “lobbyists of Moscow priests” to prevent the adoption of Bill 8371, which aims to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Poturayev said this in a commentary to the Glavkom publication.

“Experts explain that such an exarchate is a completely pulled-from-the-finger lie. When it came to the Tomos for the newly created Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the Russian Orthodox Church broke off canonical relations with Phanar and the UOC (MP) did the same. Moreover, at the Council of the UOC (MP) in May 2022, after the outbreak of the great war, this decision to sever relations was once again confirmed. So how can they now ask Phanar for an exarchate if they are not in relations with it? Therefore, when the Tomos was granted to the OCU, the signatures of the president, ministers, deputies, and priests were collected. And among the priests who signed were representatives of the UOC-KP, the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church, and even the UOC-MP. All this was taken to Phanar, and in response to this appeal, the Tomos was granted. And where is all this now?”, – the MP reflects.

Poturaiev believes that talk of possible mediation by the Patriarchate of Constantinople in resolving the Ukrainian religious conflict is an attempt to postpone consideration of Bill 8371 or postpone its implementation for one year.

“During this time, someone is supposed to move somewhere. Who and where? There is no real direction, no real desire. Unfortunately, these fake ideas continue to be discussed without the participation of the committee members at the Conciliation Board. And as far as we know, this story has been fueled by other sources recently. But I emphasize once again that this is a provocation aimed at people, including politicians, who are simply not as well versed in these specific issues,” – summarized Poturaev.