The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, has addressed religious figures and representatives of international organizations in connection with the consideration by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of draft law No 8371. This was reported by Pravblog.

In his message Patriarch Kirill noted that “without disclosing with sufficient clarity the concept of this ‘affiliation’, the said bill gives the right to judge in each specific case to the State Service of Ukraine for Ethno-politics and Freedom of Conscience, headed by a person hostile to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. This body, guided by unknown criteria, will conduct the so-called religious expertise, on the basis of the conclusion of which the court decision will be made. One does not need to be a lawyer to realize that the proposed scheme opens the door for all sorts of abuses”.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, on behalf of the fullness of the Russian Orthodox Church, appealed to the Primates of the Local Orthodox Churches with a request to speak in support of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and all its faithful members who are in tribulation for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:9).

Patriarch Kirill once again reminded about the discriminatory nature of the bill No. 8371.

“I ask you to take all possible measures to prevent the continuation of massive violations of the religious rights of believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, including in the form of discussing the situation within the agenda of the organization you head, preparing specialized reports, as well as sending special missions to establish the facts”, – Patriarch Kirill noted.