Solidarity action with the UOC in the U.S. Capitol may become a turning point in the fate of the Church, - political scientist Bondarenko

According to political analyst Kostyantyn Bondarenko, the action of solidarity with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) that took place outside the US Congress on December 16 may mark a turning point in the fate of the UOC. It is hoped that after this action the persecution of the canonical Church in Ukraine will stop, especially against the background of the changed political situation.

According to political scientist Konstantin Bondarenko, the action was of a serious nature, allowing participants to directly inform congressmen about the real state of affairs with the UOC. According to Bondarenko, American lawmakers were particularly shocked by the video footage of Metropolitan Arseniy handcuffed in the courthouse and information about his state of health.

A significant aspect of the action was the active participation of Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna. The political analyst emphasized her political weight, noting her affiliation with Vice President Vance’s team and personal campaigning by Donald Trump for her in 2023.

Bondarenko also highlighted three important events that preceded the action. First, these are J.D. Vance’s statements about the inadmissibility of persecution of the UOC and other religious organizations, backed by his personal religiosity. Second, Donald Trump’s speech at the UN General Assembly, where he declared unprecedented persecution of Christians, citing the situation in Ukraine as an illustration. Third, the «failed» visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the United States, which probably did not bring the expected results for supporters of pressure on the UOC.

«Against this background, there is a serious hope that in Ukraine the persecution of the canonical UOC will stop, especially after the resignation of the main initiator of these persecutions, Andrei Yermak,» Bondarenko said, pointing to potential changes in the Ukrainian political elite.

The political scientist noted that thanks to the efforts of American activists and representatives of churches, it was possible to draw the attention of politicians and the public to the problem of the UOC again. As confirmation, he mentioned that he had received two requests for interviews on church-related topics from very influential Western publications.

«It seems that the situation around the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is gradually changing — clearly not in the direction that would be desirable from the point of view of Zelensky and his patrons,» Konstantin Bondarenko summarized, expressing the opinion that current events may lead to a significant change in the situation for the UOC.

Recall that in the United States, at an emergency meeting of representatives of lobbyist circles supporting the Ukrainian government, the activities of American Orthodox organizations advocating for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) were recognized as a significant threat. These activities have been called «our Achilles’ heel» because they are seen by lobbyists as contributing to the narrative of religious persecution in Ukraine.