International Lawyers Challenge Zelensky’s Actions Against Metropolitan Onuphriy

The law firm Amsterdam & Partners LLP and international legal counsel to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Robert Amsterdam, have issued a statement in response to the Ukrainian government’s actions against the Primate of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphriy. The document refers to these actions as repressive measures by President Volodymyr Zelensky, which, according to the lawyers, constitute violations of both national and international law. This was reported by the Telegram channel “Pershyi Kozatskyi.”

“This act by President Volodymyr Zelensky is a gross violation of both national and international legal standards and marks a dangerous turning point in the Ukrainian government’s campaign against the UOC,” the firm’s official press release states.

The legal team emphasizes that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church firmly denies the Security Service of Ukraine’s (SSU) claims that Metropolitan Onuphriy holds Russian or any other citizenship besides Ukrainian. According to the lawyers, the SSU has failed to provide any evidence to support its allegations.

“This latest action is part of the Ukrainian government’s ongoing effort to eliminate the UOC by using unfounded accusations of ties to Russia to suppress all independent religious institutions and elevate the state-supported Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) as the sole Orthodox body in the country,” the statement reads.

The law firm notes that these repressive actions directly violate Ukraine’s Constitution and its obligations under international human rights law, specifically the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

“Stripping Metropolitan Onuphriy of his citizenship has rendered him stateless, which constitutes a clear violation of the 1961 Convention… This act represents a serious breach of Ukraine’s international obligations,” the document emphasizes.

The lawyers announced their intention to coordinate a firm and principled international legal response, including working with stakeholders in the United States, Europe, and global institutions.

“While we may not share many views with President Zelensky’s predecessor, former President Petro Poroshenko, we do agree with his recent comment:
‘What Zelensky is doing is no different from what Russia does.’”

Earlier, it was reported that Ukrainian religious scholar, OCU lobbyist, and head of the Department of Philosophy and Pedagogy at the National Transport University, Iryna Bohachevska, stated that stripping the Primate of the UOC of citizenship will provoke a negative reaction from the international community. According to her, Ukraine will have to justify its actions against the UOC, as the U.S. and Europe do not fully understand the nature of the church-state conflict.