Court denies UOC protection from State Ethnopolitics orders
The Sixth Administrative Court of Appeal has rejected the Church’s request to prohibit DESS from issuing orders to UOC structures.
On September 18, 2025, the court refused to protect the UOC from the actions of the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS). The Church had asked the court to forbid the agency from sending directives to church organizations but was denied.
Currently, the court is considering a lawsuit filed by the DESS against the Kyiv Metropolia of the UOC, seeking to terminate the activity of the religious organization.
On September 16, a UOC representative filed a petition for injunctive relief, requesting the court to prohibit the DESS from sending orders demanding “elimination of violations” to organizations belonging to or affiliated with the Kyiv Metropolia.
The petition argued that failure to apply protective measures could lead to the termination of 154 religious organizations within or linked to the UOC structure.
It should be recalled that on August 29, the DESS filed a lawsuit seeking to ban the UOC’s activities. The court is also being asked to transfer the Church’s property, funds, and other assets (except sacred items) to the state. The case is scheduled for hearing on September 30.
