Activist claims SBU and authorities involved in transfer of UOC communities to OCU

Activist and head of the organization «Decolonization. Ukraine» Vadym Pozdnyakov said that the Security Service of Ukraine, local authorities and police are involved in the process of transferring the communities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) to the jurisdiction of the OCU. According to him, both formal and informal methods of influence are used for this purpose, due to the presence of «political will.»

In his interview with Gvara Media, Pozdnyakov described the existing mechanism in detail. «I know that there are programs, formal and informal means of influence on how to transfer churches to the OCU. The work is underway because there is political will. The Security Service of Ukraine, regional administrations, community leaders, and the police are involved to prevent incidents. Everything is being done and working,» the activist said.

At the same time, Pozdnyakov expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of transitions in Kharkiv region, where, in his opinion, the local authorities are not showing enough determination. According to Opendatabot, out of 298 religious communities of the UOC in the region, only two have officially transferred to the OCU.

Assessing the reaction of the parishioners, the activist suggested that most of the believers are «not very well versed» in church matters and will continue to attend their church regardless of the change of jurisdiction. «Transfer this church to the OCU — 50 percent will go the same way. And the zealous believers will go to a distant church or better yet, to Belgorod,» he added.

As reported, on the morning of October 10, the Diocese of Vladimir-Volyn of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was forcibly evicted from the complex of premises occupied by the Holy Dormition Cathedral, the diocesan administration and the theological school. The police cordoned off the area and did not allow believers to enter the church, and an «inventory of property» is being conducted in the Cathedral.