The West is complicit in religious persecution in Ukraine, — MP Dmitruk

People’s Deputy Artem Dmitruk stated that the West acts as an accomplice in the religious persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. He noted that the European Union completely ignores the mass persecution of believers, thereby betraying its own principles. Dmitruk emphasized that if the West does not begin to listen to the voice of the Church today, tomorrow the consequences of betraying fundamental values will be felt in Europe itself — on social and moral fronts. The deputy shared this in an interview with the Greek newspaper Simmerini.

According to him, the situation with church seizures, imprisonment of priests, deprivation of citizenship of hierarchs, and humiliation of ordinary believers who remain without condemnation or support is not just a display of double standards but political hypocrisy bordering on a crime.

“The West knows what is happening, it has embassies, reports, videos, and testimonies. But instead of defending the rights to freedom of religion, conscience, and assembly, it prefers to remain silent. This is because Ukraine is their political partner, and recognizing the persecution would mean acknowledging that the partner violates democratic principles. This silence is complicity and assistance to the Zelensky regime,” Dmitruk said.

Additionally, the deputy placed direct historical responsibility for the spiritual wounds inflicted on Ukraine and the entire Orthodox world on Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

He noted that Bartholomew not only recognized the schismatics but also violated sacred canons, ignored the decisions of local Churches, and disregarded the suffering of millions of believers who remained in the canonical Church.

“He gave the ‘official seal’ to the schism by signing documents that led to church seizures, beatings of believers, and religious violence. This is not a mistake but a conscious act motivated by politics, not Christ. Instead of being a bridge of unity, the Patriarch became an instrument of geopolitical pressure, allowing the name of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to be used for anti-church purposes. History will pass judgment, but already today every new day of persecution is part of his personal responsibility before God and the Church,” Dmitruk emphasized.

Earlier, we reported that People’s Deputy Artem Dmitruk spoke to Cypriot media about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The deputy stressed that Volodymyr Zelensky personally coordinates the process of liquidating the UOC and plans to expel His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy from Ukraine.