Ukrainian diplomat calls Russian SVR "attacks" on Patriarch Bartholomew political pressure

Ukrainian Consul General in Istanbul Roman Nedilskyy has condemned statements by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR RF), calling them «political pressure» after the Russian agency criticized Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. The statements were described as «an attempt to politicize religion and use the authority of the Church in the interests of state propaganda.» He wrote about this on his Facebook page.

Nedilsky stressed that «such statements, made in the style of Russian chauvinism, are another attempt to politicize religion and use the spiritual authority of the Church in the interests of propaganda of the aggressor country.»

The diplomat noted that the head of the Phanar «consistently defends the principles of religious freedom, human dignity and peace, which is fully in line with the values that Ukraine defends.»

«Ukraine always supports the right of the Church to act independently of political pressure and resolutely rejects any attempts to discredit religious leaders who stand up for truth and international law, » he said.

Recall, earlier we reported that the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation (SVR) warned about the plans of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to grant autocephaly to the unrecognized «Montenegrin Orthodox Church». It is reported that these actions are seen as a blow to the Serbian Orthodox Church.