The head of the liquidated “Kyiv Patriarchate” Filaret Denisenko congratulated Ruslan Stefanchuk on his election as Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and asked him for an audience. The text of the congratulation was published on the page “For the Ukrainian Church” on Facebook.

“I know you as a well-known jurist, for whom the issue of legality and justice has always been in the first place as unshakable principles. I hope that, as the head of the legislative branch of power, you will help ensure that the violation of the rights to freedom of conscience of believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Kyivan Patriarchate, and our Church, will finally end with the state registration.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to personally meet with you at a convenient time for you to discuss urgent problems of church life in Ukraine. I hope for the establishment, with your help, of fruitful and constructive church-state relations and their effective legislative support, “the” patriarch “noted.