Lawyer Alexander Krasovitsky told which articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine fall under the actions of officials who convene “meetings” of local residents who are not parishioners of the temple. He posted the comment on Youtube.

The Law of Ukraine on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations, Article 8, states (paragraph 2): “Membership in a religious community is based on the principles of free expression of will, as well as on the requirements of the charter (regulations) of a religious community. The religious community, at its own discretion, accepts new and excludes existing members of the community in the manner prescribed by its charter (regulation).”

The lawyer emphasized that meetings in houses of culture and other places of general civil use, convened by officials and not provided for by the Charter of the UOC, are contrary to Article 8 of the legislation of Ukraine. The only legal way, according to the jurist, is when the meeting is convened by the rector or parish council.

According to the lawyer, in order for the parish to come under the jurisdiction of, for example, the OCU, it is necessary to make changes to the Charter, and these changes require the consent and approval of the diocesan bishop, which, of course, officials who organize meetings about the “transfer” of churches from the UOC do not have in the OCU.