Ukraine's parliament has passed a bill banning the activities of religious groups associated with the Russian Orthodox Church or any faith group supporting Russia's invasion. The legislation, approved with 265 affirmative votes and 29 opposed, allows the government to prohibit the activities of religious groups deemed too closely linked to Russia or supportive of the invasion.
The ban specifically targets the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), historically tied to the Russian church. While the UOC claims independence from Moscow, the Ukrainian government asserts its continued canonical ties to the Russian church and its Moscow-based patriarch, who has characterized the invasion as a holy war.
The bill, endorsed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, requires his signature and aims to safeguard Ukrainian spiritual independence. It empowers the government to investigate suspect religious groups, with final court enforcement delayed until nine months after publication.
The legislation explicitly prohibits the Russian Orthodox Church, labeling it an extension of the aggressor state's regime and an accomplice to war crimes. It also bars religious organizations with ties to states engaged in armed aggression against Ukraine.
Since declaring independence from Moscow following Russia's invasion, the UOC has faced scrutiny. Over 100 UOC clerics have faced criminal proceedings for alleged war-related crimes, with some already charged and sentenced. The church's governing documents have been examined, indicating continued affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church.
A lawyer representing the UOC criticized the bill as a violation of religious freedom, denouncing it as religious cleansing. The legislation also targets organizations promoting the 'Russian world' ideology, reflecting a broader religious and cultural struggle underlying the conflict.
The Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), recognized as independent in 2019, emerged from Ukraine's political independence movement. The OCU's formation and recognition by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople have been contested by the Russian Orthodox Church.
Leaders of various religious groups in Ukraine highlight severe persecution of minority faiths in Russian-occupied areas. The bill's passage underscores the complex interplay of religion, culture, and geopolitics in the ongoing conflict.
