The decision of the local authoritiesto ban the activities of religious communities of the UOC has no legal force. This is stated in a letter from the head of the Kyiv Regional Organization of the ruling political party “Servant of the People” Motovilovets A.V.

“In the list of constitutional rights and freedoms of man and citizen, the restriction of which is allowed by the Decree of the President of Ukraine “On the introduction of martial law in Ukraine”, there is no article 35 of the Constitution of Ukraine, which guarantees everyone the right to freedom of opinion and religion.

Thus, accordingly, no law or normative legal act of Ukraine gives self-government bodies the right to prohibit or interfere in the activities of religious organizations, even under martial law. The demand of officials of local self-government bodies is interference in the internal affairs of a religious community. This contradicts both the European Convention on Human Rights and the Constitution of Ukraine, since “the Church and religious organizations in Ukraine are separated from the state” (Article 35 of the Constitution of Ukraine).”

Given the aforementioned decision of the local government to ban the activities of religious communities of the UOC, it has no legal force; moreover, it can be considered contrary to the Constitution of Ukraine,” the letter says.