The head of the international law firm Amsterdam & Partners LLP, Robert Amsterdam, has said that the sudden activation of Ukrainian parliamentarians towards the adoption of a law banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is an attempt to divert public attention from the tragedy with IL-76 that occurred the day before in Belgorod Region of Russia. About this he told in an interview with Business Wire.

“I can’t think of a more disgusting or reprehensible act than an attempt to divert attention from negligence after such a tragic loss of life (the crash of the Il-76 military transport plane in the Belgorod region, which, according to media reports, killed more than 70 Ukrainian prisoners of war – ed.). From the very beginning we have repeatedly stated that Bill 8371 has nothing to do with Ukraine’s security, but is solely a desperate political ploy to gain support for extremists – and now the Rada has just proven this point more clearly than I ever could“, – Robert Amsterdam said.

The human rights activist is convinced that the state continues its “ugly policy of division” instead of uniting Ukrainian society.

“This is the moment to honor the memory of the fallen prisoners of war, to investigate the tragedy and strengthen Ukrainian unity. This is not the time to take away places of worship from believers and continue this ugly policy of division“, – the lawyer emphasized.

It is worth noting that on January 25, 2024, the day of the tragedy with IL-76, the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, Nikita Poturaev (“Servant of the People”), said that on January 26, the Committee would consider the bill 8371 on banning the UOC. However, on January 26, it turned out that the consideration of the law on banning the UOC was postponed again.