Earlier, the OCU lobbyist in the media and a freelance expert of the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, religious scholar Andriy Smirnov, said that after the adoption of the law banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the state should increase its influence on the clergy and believers of the denomination in order to persuade them to join the OCU. Smirnov is convinced that those who do not want to become part of the Ukrainian schism should leave Ukraine and go to Russia.
Zelensky again spoke of the urgent need to strengthen “spiritual independence”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has once again reiterated the need to pass bills that will strengthen Ukraine’s “spiritual independence.” The head of state asked the Verkhovna Rada to immediately consider this issue, apparently referring to Bill No. 8371, which aims to ban the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The corresponding video address is posted on the website of the President of Ukraine.
“I ask the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to meet to consider these issues (adoption of defense bills — ed.) immediately and in the near future. Of course, in addition to these decisions I have mentioned, there are some other legislative initiatives that strengthen our independence, namely spiritual independence, as well as governmental work to implement them. All this should be done really quickly,” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Read also
