Former Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko gave an interview to the BBC, in which, in particular, he stated that, in his opinion, a discussion continues within the parliament between lobbyists of the UOC and other deputies regarding the adoption of a law to ban the UOC.

“I think that the vote should only be positive. When I left, I asked the deputies to beware of three things: lobbyists for developers, lobbyists for the UOC-MP and professional manipulators,” he added.

When asked if Tkachenko believes that the parliament will nevertheless pass a law that will make it possible to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the former official answered in the affirmative.

“The law is not about the UOC-MP, as it is popularly called, but the law on the prohibition of the activities of religious organizations with the center located in the aggressor country. Although it has a framework character, it should in many ways contribute to the completion of the process of taking over the government of Kiev by the state. Pechersk, Pochaev and Svyatogorsk Lavra,” the former minister said.