Metropolitan Kliment: Use of Russian Documents in UOC Inspection Reflects Problems Within State Agencies

The official spokesperson of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Kliment of Nizhyn and Pryluky, has raised concerns about the methods used by the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience in its inspection of the Kyiv Metropolis. He emphasized that relying on documents from the Russian Federation is a highly questionable and risky approach. The bishop spoke about this in an interview with Telegraf.

According to the metropolitan, attempts to find proof of ties between the UOC and the ROC in Russian sources reflect a fundamentally flawed methodology.

“If officials consider it acceptable to analyze the status of the UOC based on Russian legislation and Russian documentation, then, in my opinion, this is more indicative of problems not within the UOC, but within the organizations choosing such a method,” he emphasized.

He also pointed out that such practices effectively lend legitimacy to structures which, under both Ukrainian law and international standards, bear the characteristics of criminal or terrorist organizations.

When asked about potential directives from SSEFC demanding disassociation from the ROC, the hierarch stated that it is impossible to comment without first reviewing the content of such orders. Nevertheless, he clarified the Church’s position:

“If we are required to do something for which we are not guilty and to which we have no connection, then of course we will not take part in such absurd actions,” the bishop declared.

Metropolitan Kliment also criticized the proposal of SSEFC head Viktor Yelensky to engage in official correspondence with the ROC.

“They are demanding that we enter into official correspondence with a religious organization that is banned in Ukraine?” asked the UOC spokesperson.

He once again reminded the public that the UOC has repeatedly and publicly stated: neither Metropolitan Onufriy nor any other bishops participate in the administrative bodies of the ROC.

Earlier, it was reported that Ukrainian MP Georgii Mazurashu of the Servant of the People party once again criticized the anti-church bill No. 3894, aimed at banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The deputy maintains that responsibility for violations of the law should fall on individuals who commit crimes, not on the entire organization with which they may be associated.