OP deputy head assures Americans that authorities "love the UOC"
Olena Kovalska stated that the authorities "in no way opposed to the parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church".
Deputy Head of the Office of the President Olena Kovalska wrote an article for the American conservative magazine National Review titled "Russia is Not a Defender of Christianity", in which she criticized the Russian Federation for persecuting Christians and assured that the Ukrainian state does not persecute Christians.
"Ukraine is in no way opposed to the parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (which is still affiliated with Russia) or to its doctrine. The only thing we ask as a state is that legal ties with Russia be severed," Kovalska wrote.
The official stated that the state "respects and loves" those who associate themselves with the UOC. She did not mention how this love and respect aligns with the mass seizures of churches.
According to her, Tucker Carlson's accusations of UOC priests' detention are justified, but the arrests themselves are warranted. The official believes that 38 sentences to UOC priests out of 9000 is a negligible amount and does not mean that the authorities are persecuting the entire Church.
"There are accusations that you have heard from Tucker Carlson that Ukraine is allegedly arresting priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. So, in our country, the rule of law prevails, and if someone works against the country by helping the enemy, they will be punished regardless of their position... What persecution are we talking about?" Kovalska wondered.
"Once again, we love and respect the UOC. The only thing we ask is to sever legal ties with Russia," the official stated.
She reported that the Ukrainian authorities cannot surrender territories due to religious considerations. "If we give up our land, as many are calling for, we are essentially abandoning our brothers in Christ who are left there, suffering. We will not give up our religious freedoms," Kovalska declared.
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Zelensky called Carlson's accusations of persecution of the UOC manipulative.
