Metropolitan Theodosius invited to UN to testify on violations of believers' rights in Ukraine

Metropolitan Theodosiy (Snigirev) of Cherkasy and Kanevsk has received an official invitation to Geneva to testify at the UN as a witness in cases of human rights violations in Ukraine. He will have to provide personal explanations to the UN Special Rapporteurs, as well as to the Independent International Commission of Inquiry into violations against believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

According to the Telegram channel Cherkasy Blagovestnik, the move follows investigations initiated after seven UN Special Rapporteurs sent a communication request to the Ukrainian state in May. The document mentioned the case of Metropolitan Theodosius himself, the events surrounding the seizure of the Cathedral in Cherkasy, criminal cases against other hierarchs of the UOC — Metropolitans Arseniy, Longin and Pavlo, as well as the law on the de facto ban of the Church.

According to the human rights organization Public Advocacy, which represents the interests of the UOC believers in the UN, it is the first time that the practice of broad interpretation of the norms of the Criminal Code of Ukraine has been assessed at such a high level. International experts consider the use of such vague concepts as «subversion» or «incitement of religious hatred» to prosecute legitimate rhetoric, including sermons and publications on social networks. Such jurisprudence is said to be already viewed internationally as potentially illegal.

Metropolitan Theodosius’ testimony is expected to help UN mandate holders decide whether the actions of Ukraine’s state authorities show signs of repression and crimes against religious groups. In addition, the issue of discriminatory denial of the right to defer mobilization to the UOC clergymen, which is enjoyed by representatives of other denominations, will be considered.

We will remind, the day before the hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Metropolitan of Cherkassy and Kanev Theodosius (Snigiryov) published an open appeal to Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew. The bishop called on the head of the Phanar to correct the mistake made in 2019, when the Ukrainian schism was legalized, which led to unprecedented persecution of the clergy and believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.