On March 24, 2023, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights published a report on freedom of religion in Ukraine for the period from August 1, 2022 to January 31, 2023, where one of the sections on religious freedom mentions discrimination against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, informs educational department of the UOC.

In particular, we are talking about bills No. 8221, No. 8262 and No. 8371 that discriminate against the UOC, as well as the concern caused by the use of so-called “security measures” by the SSU against the UOC.

“The SSU conducted searches (some of them called “security measures”) in several monasteries, offices, educational institutions and other property of the UOC in Kiev, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Dnipropetrovsk, Khmelnytsky, Cherkasy, Volyn, Kherson, Ternopil , Poltava and Transcarpathian regions,” the report says.

It is noted that some clergymen of the UOC were interrogated using a polygraph and at least three suspicions were brought against them, including for “violation of the equality of citizens on the basis of nationality, religion, encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine”, as well as for “denial of the Russian armed aggression against Ukraine”. At least two suspects are under round-the-clock house arrest.

“OHCHR is concerned that the actions of the state against the UOC may be discriminatory. OHCHR also recalls the need to ensure that all individuals facing criminal charges enjoy the full range of fair trial rights,” the document says.