OCU spokesman: We will protect freedom of religion by banning UOC

OCU spokesman Yevstratiy Zorya, who participated in the Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, said that the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is justified because the existence of the canonical Church on the territory of Ukraine threatens “freedom of conscience.” Zoria based his report on the history of the Russian Orthodox Church, drawing parallels between the “Russian world” and the Nazi ideology of the Third Reich. Zoria’s report was published on his Telegram channel.

“The Moscow Patriarchate, having the appearance of a religious center, but being in fact a governmental structure, threatens the security of other states, other religious communities, and is an instrument of persecution and hybrid warfare. Therefore, it is the task of those who defend religious freedom to see and understand this and fight this shameful phenomenon. Democratic countries and activists must defend religious freedom not only from secular threats, but also from the misuse of religious freedom against real freedom of religion. From turning the Church into a “Reichskirche”. That is why the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations supported the desire of Ukrainian society to prohibit Moscow centers from having administrative influence on religious life in Ukraine by law,” – Zoria said.

In addition, he added that the ban on the UOC is supported by 80% of Ukrainian citizens, so such actions of the state against the Church are justified.

“80% of those polled in Ukraine support this decision (to ban the MP in Ukraine – ed.) Therefore, together with all those who seek to defend freedom, and not just use the rhetoric of freedom to help destroy it, we will work to ensure that freedom of religion is protected. Including protection from such an aggressive Kremlin institution as the Moscow Patriarchate,” – the OCU spokesman summarized.

Earlier, Vladimir Zelensky gave an interview to British journalist Piers Morgan, in which, among other things, he also spoke about the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Zelensky rejected accusations that he was adopting dictatorial laws, one of which was to ban the UOC.