The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine sent a response to the appeal of the deputies of the Lutsk City Council regarding the ban of the UOC, stating that, according to the law, only a court can ban the activities of a religious organization. It is reported by the publication Competitor.

“The Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy notes that if a religious organization violates the provisions of the Law of Ukraine “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations” or other legislative acts of Ukraine, its activities may be terminated by a court decision,” the message says.

However, there must be specific reasons for this:

commission by a religious organization of actions, the inadmissibility of which is provided for in Articles 3, 5 and 17 of this Law;
a combination of ceremonial or preaching activities of a religious organization with encroachments on the life, health, freedom and dignity of a person;
systematic violation of the procedure established by law for holding public religious events;
inducing citizens to fail to fulfill their constitutional obligations or actions that are accompanied by gross violations of public order or encroachment on the rights and property of state, public or religious organizations;
conviction of its authorized persons for committing a criminal offense against the foundations of the national security of Ukraine, provided for in Article 1111 of the Criminal Code.

The letter also informs that after a large number of appeals from local governments, the Committee held hearings on the topic of “a threat to the national security of Ukraine, which is associated with the activities of religious organizations led by bodies from the aggressor country.”

“The participants in the discussion stated that the Russian Orthodox Church, in close cooperation with the state authorities of the aggressor state, played a significant role in the formation and dissemination of the ideology of the “Russian world”. The activities of the ROC should be completely banned on the territory of Ukraine,” the Verkhovna Rada said in a response.