On October 19, 2023, the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) met with the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmygal. At the same time, authorized representatives from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) were not allowed to participate in this meeting. This was reported by the Information and Education Department of the UOC with reference to the website of the DECR.
“Despite the fact that the candidates for the meeting participants from the UOC were submitted from the UCCRO in advance, they were denied by the Government of Ukraine to meet with the Prime Minister of Ukraine as part of the UCCRO without notification of the reasons”, – the report said.
The DECR noted that the UOC, being officially registered and legally operating in Ukraine, is also one of the co-founders and an active member of the UCCRO. This is the first case in the history of Ukraine, when an authorized member of the UCCRO was denied participation in a meeting with the Prime Minister as a member of the UCCRO. In accordance with Article 5 of the Law of Ukraine “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations”, all religions, denominations and religious organizations are equal before the law. The establishment of any advantages or restrictions on one religion, denomination or religious organization in relation to others is not permitted. The UCCRO carries out its activities on the principles of equality and equity, respectful attitude to the internal attitudes and traditions of all religious organizations officially operating in Ukraine.
“In this regard, it should be noted that such actions of the Government of Ukraine are discriminatory towards the largest religious association of Ukraine and violate the legislative prohibition on the establishment of any advantages or restrictions among religious associations. We believe that the obstacles to the representatives of the UOC by the Government are unacceptable and indicate a discriminatory policy towards the Ukrainian Orthodox Church”, – the statement reads.
