Ban on the UOC-MP: bill to be considered next week in the Rada

Next week, the Verkhovna Rada is going to consider in the second reading a bill banning religious organizations associated with the aggressor country. This was reported by UNN with a link to the draft agenda of the Verkhovna Rada and the card of bill No. 8371.

Details

According to the draft law, foreign religious organizations can carry out their activities in Ukraine, provided that they do not harm national or public security, public order, health or morality, rights and freedoms of other persons. It is noted that the activities of foreign religious organizations that meet these criteria are prohibited in Ukraine:

• are located in a state that has carried out or is carrying out armed aggression against Ukraine and/or temporarily occupied a part of the territory of Ukraine;
• directly or indirectly (including through public statements by managers or other governing bodies) support the armed aggression against Ukraine.
  

Given that the Russian Orthodox Church is an ideological continuation of the regime of the aggressor state, an accomplice to war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on behalf of the Russian Federation and the Russian World ideology, the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine are prohibited. The use of religious organizations to propagate the Russian World ideology, including the popularization of this ideology in any way, is contrary to the interests of national and public security, territorial integrity of Ukraine and is prohibited

The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience will consider the issues of confirming the use of a religious organization to propagate the Russian World ideology in accordance with the procedure established by the Cabinet of Ministers.

The review may use the conclusions of religious expertise, information from other central executive authorities, data from public electronic registers, as well as information received from individuals and legal entities, the media and other open sources

Also, the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience will approve a list of religious organizations that are banned in Ukraine by an appropriate order. The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine will be able to impose sanctions on religious organizations.

A foreign religious organization whose activity is prohibited in Ukraine may not be an owner, participant, or shareholder of legal entities registered in Ukraine. Relations, or connections, or communications of religious organizations, including religious communities, other legal entities of private law with foreign religious organizations whose activities are prohibited in Ukraine are not allowed, except if they are carried out with the consent of the central executive body that implements state policy in the field of religion

The decision to ban religious organizations will be made by a district administrative court with territorial jurisdiction over the city of Kyiv, following a lawsuit filed by the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience. If the court makes the decision, an appeal can be filed with the Supreme Court.

The court decision of the Supreme Court in such cases is final and not subject to cassation appeal

Addendum Addendum

Today, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the Verkhovna Rada to convene immediately to consider a defense legislative package, including issues related to, among other things, the regulation of trophy weapons, the citizenship of foreigners fighting in Ukrainian legions, and the deprivation of state awards to traitors.

MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak reported that it is also planned to consider in the second reading a bill to ban the UOC-MP.