President Volodymyr Zelensky, by his Decree 820/2022, approved the decision of the National Security and Defense Council to submit, within two months, for consideration by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, a bill on the impossibility of activities in Ukraine of religious organizations affiliated with centers of influence in the Russian Federation.
The decision also says:
“To resolve without delay the issue of assigning the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience to the central executive authorities, whose activities are directed and coordinated directly by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine;
resolve issues of functional subordination to the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience of the structural units of local state administrations, whose powers include the implementation of the right to freedom of conscience and religion, the activities of religious organizations;
ensure, within two months, verification of the existence of legal grounds and compliance with the conditions for the use by religious organizations of property located on the territory of the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Reserve.
- To provide the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience within two months, in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations”, with conducting a religious examination of the Charter on the Administration of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for the presence of a church-canonical connection with the Moscow Patriarchate, if necessary, adopting the stipulated the law of measures.
- The Security Service of Ukraine, together with the National Police of Ukraine and other state bodies whose competence includes issues in the field of national security, to intensify measures to identify and counter the subversive activities of Russian special services in the religious environment of Ukraine.
- To support the proposals made by the Security Service of Ukraine on the application of personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions).
- Apply personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) to individuals.”
