UOC comments on Russia's decision to address UN on church situation

On 16 January 2023, the Department for External Church Relations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church commented on the intention of the Russian representative to the UN to raise the situation around the UOC. The text of the commentary was published on the official UOC DECR website.

"It has become known from the media that Russia's permanent representative to the UN Nebenzia V.A. requested a separate meeting of the UN Security Council for January 17, 2023, on the situation around the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

In this connection, we inform that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has not so far addressed any state with a request for assistance to protect its rights, and all the more so to the state that has committed a treacherous armed attack against our country," the commentary reads.

"Nor have we authorised anyone from the ROC MP to speak on our behalf at the UN. We are concerned that questions about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are raised by structures which have nothing to do with us. We urge the Russian authorities not to speak on behalf of our Church at international forums and not to use the religious factor for their political purposes.

At the same time, we ask our Ukrainian authorities to conduct a balanced religious policy inside the country and ensure equal rights for all religious organizations in order not to give reasons to the aggressor state to use the religious policy of our state in its own interests," the published text says.

The DECR noted that Synodal institutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church within their competence and available capacities systematically carry out activities aimed at protecting the rights and freedoms of believers and religious organizations of the UOC, both at the national and international levels.

As reported, the UOC spokesperson commented on the imposition of sanctions against 17 ministers of the Church.