Metropolitan Theodosiy (Snigiryov), who governs the Cherkasy diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, had a telephone conversation with Robert Amsterdam, head of the international human rights company Amsterdam & Partners LLP, who represents the legal interests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In the course of the conversation, the issues of defense of the UOC in international human rights instances were raised, the website of the Cherkassy diocese of the UOC reports.

“We talked about the objective obstacles to the adoption of the Verkhovna Rada anti-constitutional bill 8371, about the ongoing fabrication of criminal cases against Orthodox clergy, journalists and activists, about the need to more actively inform the world community about violations of freedom of speech and freedom of conscience in our country,” the website said.

In addition, during the conversation, the topic of pressure on the deputy head of the Office of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Archpriest Nicholas Danilevich, at whom the SBU conducted searches on April 12, 2024, was raised.

“Also discussed the incident with the search at the place of residence and the filing of criminal Suspicion under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine deputy head of the UOC OVCS Archpriest Mykola Danilevich. Both interlocutors came to the conclusion that such actions of law enforcers may be a direct consequence of the recent meeting of Father Nikolai with the delegation of the Conference of European Churches, where he officially on behalf of the UOC voiced his negative attitude to the prospect of the adoption of the bill 8371 on the prohibition of the Church”, – added in the diocese.

Robert Amsterdam noted that the topic of persecution of the UOC provoked genuine interest in the Western public. According to the lawyer, many in the United States are ready to participate in the process of protecting the rights and freedoms of believers.

“According to the international lawyer, the topic of persecution of believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has become a painful nerve for many people of good will in the United States, and provokes genuine reaction and interest among independent investigators and journalists who want to know more and inform their citizens of the truth about the persecution of believers in the XXI century in the center of Europe. For example, Tucker Carlson, a well-known conservative journalist and political observer, is in regular communication with Robert Amsterdam, constantly interested in information about the situation of the UOC in Ukraine”, – noted on the website of the diocese.

Earlier we reported that the head of the international human rights company “Amsterdam & Partners LLP” Robert Amsterdam, representing the legal interests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, reacted to the blocking by the state of Ukrainian church media covering the problems of state-church relations in the country. The lawyer believes that the state is thus trying to divert the attention of Ukrainians from the real problems that are taking place in the country.