An MP of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine from the European Solidarity party, Rostyslav Pavlenko, has said that the Ukrainian parliament lacks the political will to vote in favor of draft law No 8371 aimed at banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Pavlenko noted that the Verkhovna Rada simply does not meet for plenary sessions, and the head of the Verkhovna Rada does not put the issue to a vote. About this he told on air of the TV channel “Pryamyi”.

“So far there is no will to do it. The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada says that he puts all efforts to ensure that this bill was considered, but for some reason does not do one simple thing – does not convene the meeting itself in order to finally consider it”, – said Pavlenko.

Pavlenko assures that the bill #8371 has already been finalized and is ready for voting in the second reading, but deputies are banally not going to the session to vote for at least something.

“The bill has been finalized in committee. There are cases, and this is one of them, when everyone has worked – there is a text that will make the law effective and efficient – it just needs to be passed. And for this we just need to get together”, – summarized the deputy.

It is worth noting that despite the announced vote for the ban of the UOC in the Verkhovna Rada for early or mid-March 2024, it never happened. Earlier we analyzed this topic and suggested that MPs are much more reluctant to vote for other bills that the Office of the President is trying to sell. For example, the scandalous and actually slavish law “On Mobilization”. That is why they sabotage the plenary sessions of parliament.