The head of the international human rights company Amsterdam & Partners LLP, Robert Amsterdam, who represents the legal interests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, gave his first comment on his visit to Ukraine. The lawyer said that he came to convey to the Ukrainian authorities the opinion that in the 21st century it is impossible to adopt laws banning certain religious movements. He said this in a commentary for the 5 Kanal TV channel.

“I criticize the whole idea (the adoption of Law No. 8371, – ed.). Europe lives in the 21st century. There is no place here for laws banning religion, period. If you think that someone, God forbid, supports Russia, then initiate criminal proceedings against them”, – Amsterdam said.

In addition, Robert Amsterdam objected to the replica of the “Channel 5” journalist that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is allegedly guided from Moscow and insisted that his work to defend the UOC is not in the interests of the Russian Federation.

“It’s a big lie! This is slander! The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has seceded from Moscow. Men from our Ukrainian Orthodox Church are fighting against Russia at the front. I have been banned from entering Russia. I have been arrested in Russia. My friends were killed in Russia”, – the human rights activist emphasized.

We shall remind you that the head of the international law firm Amsterdam&Partners LLP, Robert Amsterdam, called on the US government to impose personal sanctions against the head of the Ukrainian State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, Viktor Yelenskyy. The human rights activist is convinced that Yelenskyy is involved in the violation of religious freedoms of Ukrainian citizens.