Head of SSEFC announces early termination of agreements on the use of churches and monasteries by UOC communities

The head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, Viktor Yelensky, said that there is no need to wait for the full implementation of Law No. 3894 to terminate contracts for the use of religious buildings that are architectural monuments by communities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The official claims that government agencies and local governments can already conduct appropriate inspections to identify shortcomings and further expropriate movable and immovable property. He said this in a comment to Ukrinform.

“If the state decides that some premises were once given for free use, for example, to a monastery, with violations, it can apply and return it to its own use,” – Yelenskyy said.

As reported, on January 16, 2025, the Supreme Court of Ukraine dismissed the claim of the Chernihiv Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church regarding the right to use the complex of premises of the Holy Trinity Yelets Monastery of the XII-XVII centuries. Thus, the court upheld previous decisions and orders of the Ministry of Culture regarding these architectural monuments.