The Ukrainian Orthodox Church appealed to the National Police in connection with the commission of a criminal offense by representatives of LLC 5 KANAL TV associated with inciting religious hatred and hatred and insulting the feelings of citizens of Ukraine regarding their religious beliefs. This is reported by the Information and Education Department of the UOC with reference to the Legal Department of the UOC.
“In connection with the numerous complaints of the believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church regarding the content of the program “Rendezvous with Yanina Sokolova”, which appeared on the air of Channel 5 on April 8, the Legal Department of the UOC submitted the necessary documents to the National Police in order to initiate criminal proceedings for the creation and distribution channel of video content, the content of which contains signs of inciting religious enmity and hatred and offends the citizens of Ukraine in connection with their religious beliefs,” the report says.
Participants of the program “Rendezvous with Yanina Sokolova” allowed themselves to use extremely negative characteristics and statements about the UOC and its believers, called the UOC “Moscow”, discussed the need and timing of its complete destruction. The statements of believers, aimed at protecting the Church, were called “insane heresy.”
In addition, the program used blasphemous and offensive terms regarding Holy Communion, which is one of the most important sacraments of Christians. The TV presenter resorted to the name of the body and blood of Christ with a saying that cannot be quoted from ethical convictions. By this, she offended not only the feelings of the believers of the UOC, but also all Christians, for whom the Eucharist is recognized as one of the main Sacraments, for the sake of which the Liturgy is performed. It is the Eucharist that is the main goal of the prayer meeting of believers in the temple.
“Publicly promulgated statements on the air of the Channel 5 TV channel contain appeals and statements that are aimed at strengthening intolerant, hostile attitude in society towards the believers of the UOC, and consequently, at inciting religious enmity and hatred, insulting the feelings of citizens in connection with their religious beliefs. Due to the public outcry caused by the appearance of blasphemous statements on the air of Ukrainian television, this crime should be fairly and impartially investigated by Ukrainian law enforcement agencies,” the Legal Department of the UOC noted.
As you know, for a long time the owner of the Channel 5 TV channel was the People’s Deputy Petro Poroshenko. Now the owners of this media are a number of people’s deputies from the party, which Petro Poroshenko still heads.
It should be emphasized that at the moment the journalist used blasphemous sayings in relation to the Holy Body and Blood of Christ, a representative of the OCU conducted a conversation with her, who in no way emphasized the inadmissibility of such rhetoric and did not further dissociate himself from it.
