An official of the Ukrainian government Andriy Yurash called on religious organizations to intervene in the consideration of the case on the constitutionality of amendments to the law on freedom of conscience (the law about renaming) in the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. “We perfectly understand what kind of courts we have”, the state employee justified his appeal.

Andriy Yurash today is the head of the department on religious issues, ensuring the right of citizens to freedom of worldview and religion of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers. On February 4, 2021,  during his speech at a press conference for the World Week of Interfaith Harmony, he made a number of statements that have signs of criminal offenses.

This was stated by the head of the Legal Department of the UOC, Archpriest Oleksandr Bakhov, who appealed to the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal with a request to dismiss Yurash, according to law.church.ua.

“Next week we will see how the Constitutional Court will begin to consider the submission of 49 deputies of the previous parliament, who want to cancel the norm of one of the laws adopted on December 20, 2018”, said Mr. Yurash. He said it`s a crime not to interfere in the consideration of this case. Moreover, in his opinion, the passive position of religious communities on this issue cannot be considered “quite adequate”.

At the same time, the official shared his assumption that exactly this kind of “active position” is expected from state bodies, and therefore from him in society.

“With his appeals to religious organizations and state bodies regarding influence on the Constitutional Court so that the latter would not make a wrong decision, Andriy Yurash committed actions containing signs of a criminal offense under Part 2 of Article 376 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – interference in the activities of the judiciary, Part. 1 Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – abuse of power or official position”, the head of the Legal Department of the UOC analyzed the statements of the official.

In this regard, Archpriest Olexandr Bakhov appealed to the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal with a request to dismiss Yurash.

“I ask you to consider the issue of removing Mr. A. Yurash from the post of head of the department for religion, ensuring the right of citizens to freedom of worldview and religion of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers, because his behavior denies either to moral and ethical or to business and service standards. Using his official position, he allowed himself to pressure and interfere in the work of the Constitutional Court, and calls for the same actions by state bodies and religious organizations”, he said.