Are they trying to drag the UOC into a new political game?

A serious split has emerged in the camp of Ukrainian oppositionists, linked to what at first glance appears to be a good initiative by some of those who have fled the establishment—to draw attention to political prisoners, including hierarchs and priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. At the same time, there are some inconsistencies in all this, which Anatoly Shariy has pointed out. Deputy Alexander Dubinsky, about whom there are certain questions, was chosen as the headliner of the “fight for the rights of Ukrainian political prisoners.”

In general, we would not touch on this topic if it had not begun to be linked to the “church issue.” Exploiting the sore spots of UOC believers, the list of dissidents includes Metropolitan Arseniy (Yakovenko), the abbot of the Svyatogorsk Lavra, who is imprisoned in a pre-trial detention center, and Metropolitan Pavel (Lebid), whose rights have been significantly violated. It is characteristic that Alexander Dubinsky, whom we mentioned, has recently been eagerly commenting on church issues, acting almost as an advocate for the UOC. However, Anatoly Shariy recalled how, just a few years ago, Dubinsky actively participated in the persecution of the UOC, using all available resources.

First of all, there was the scandalous program “Money” on the channel “1+1,” in which Dubinsky slandered Metropolitan Pavel. Dubinsky spent considerable effort on this show lobbying for the creation of the OCU, which is why the UOC is now on the verge of liquidation. What is even more interesting is that this happened during the Poroshenko era and later during the Zelensky era. In other words, Alexander Dubinsky actively participated in the persecution of the UOC under two presidents. And he would probably still be doing so if he had not ended up in a detention center.

Whether it was the prison chains that had such an effect on Alexander, or some other circumstances, such as the creation of a new political “opposition project,” as Shariy said. However, based on his rhetoric, Dubinsky cannot now be called an enemy of the UOC. But is this really the case? The internet remembers everything! YouTube is full of episodes of the program “Money,” where Dubinsky, mocking the clergy and believers, incites hatred towards the UOC. And he does so enthusiastically and consciously, understanding the consequences for the Church. And we do not recall Alexander showing any remorse for his complicity in the persecution of the UOC.

Hence the question to Alexander Dubinsky: when were you being genuine? When you were supporting the creation of the OCU and calling for the suppression of the UOC, or now, when you seem to be defending the UOC? If, during your time in pretrial detention, your convictions have truly changed and you sincerely empathize with what is happening to the UOC now, then could you at least apologize for what you did against the Church in the past? After all, the expropriation of church property and the ban on the UOC are also, to a certain extent, your fault. It would be honest and evangelical to admit this. Do as the Apostle Paul did in his time. And if your current positive attitude towards the UOC is purely situational, then… Then we will simply know that you are hyping up the topic of the Church, as others have done before you and, judging by all appearances, will continue to do after you.

In fact, this situation is very unusual. Why is that? Because, as we understand it, the elections are approaching. And if everything continues in the same direction, we assume that the believers of the UOC, who are a potential electorate, will again be used in some political scheme, playing on their vulnerability, insults, and emotional experiences. We have already written that this segment of society will inevitably be presented with some kind of “prince on a white horse” who, in reality, will turn out to be a “Trojan horse.” And we would very much like to see our church people not fall for the beautiful packaging again. After all, it was the votes of millions of believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church that brought Poroshenko and Zelensky to power, who PROMISED not to interfere in church matters and to respect the rights of believers, but lied, subjecting us all to real terror.