On August 28, 2023, a conference on violations of the rights of UOC believers will be held in the Serbian capital at the initiative of the Belgrade-based Center for Geostrategic Studies, Global Orthodox reports. The purpose of the meeting is to inform the Serbian public about the religious situation in Ukraine.

“In Ukraine, the authorities are destroying the Ukrainian Orthodox Church before the eyes of the entire world community. This is a joint action of the Zelensky regime and the “OCU”, which is under the patronage of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, as well as Patriarch Bartholomew directly. The churches of the UOC were seized, and its clergy were subjected to violence and persecution. Moreover, we have witnessed a raider attack on one of the most ancient centers of the Orthodox world – the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and its sanctuaries”, – said the organizers of the conference.

The organizers also say that they appealed to international organizations such as the UN, the Council of Europe, the Red Cross and others with a request to react to the violation of people’s religious rights in Ukraine, but there was no reaction. According to the Center’s press service, a new collective appeal to international organizations will be adopted as a result of the conference.