Ukrainian Parliament Creates Deputies’ Association Supporting Christian Values

A cross-faction parliamentary association called “For Christian Values” has been established in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The initiative, involving both elected officials and members of civil society, is aimed at strengthening the spiritual, moral, and cultural foundations of Ukrainian society. This was reported by lawyer and civil sector representative Nazar Yaremchuk, who also conveyed an informational message to Christian MPs from other countries’ parliaments. The news was reported by the outlet Ukraine Orthodox.

The stated priorities of the association include the development and support of legislation protecting the family, freedom of conscience, and citizens’ religious rights. The group intends to support educational and volunteer projects that promote Christian ideals among youth and the general public, as well as to counter legislative efforts and political stances that, in their view, contradict the traditional moral principles of Ukrainian society. Particular attention will be given to the protection of historical and religious landmarks as symbols of Ukraine’s Christian identity.

The message emphasizes that international cooperation among Christian parliamentarians from different countries may become an important step toward strengthening spiritual and moral foundations on a global scale, and serve as a platform for sharing experience, discussing common challenges, and seeking effective ways to promote Christian values in politics and society.

Earlier, it was reported that OCU lobbyist and non-staff expert of Ukraine’s State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (SSEFC), Andrii Smirnov, stated that the OCU is registering legal “clones” of monasteries belonging to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church so the state can more easily transfer UOC property to the OCU. According to Smirnov, the state has full authority to dispose of monastery assets as it sees fit, and the OCU must always be prepared to accept monasteries or churches taken from the UOC.