Ukraine's parliament approves bill to ban Russia-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church amid invasion accusations.
Ukraine's parliament has approved a bill to ban the activities of a Russia-linked branch of the Orthodox Church, targeting the historically Russian-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) amid accusations that it has been complicit in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The legislation bans the Russian Orthodox Church on Ukrainian territory and establishes a government commission to create a list of "affiliated" organizations whose activities will not be allowed, specifically targeting the UOC. The process may be long and complex due to each Orthodox parish being an individual entity, but President Volodymyr Zelensky has praised the vote as a step towards strengthening Ukraine's "spiritual independence."
August 20, 2024
114 Articles