“If to protect then all, – the UOC urges power to be objective

Deputy Head of the UOC DECR Protopriest Nikolai Danilevich

The authorities selectively condemn the facts of oppression of religious organizations in Ukraine. This was reported by the deputy head of the UOC DECR, Protopriest Nikolai Danilevich on his Facebook page.

The priest expressed his surprise at the official commentary of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry regarding the hindered construction of the UGCC church in Belaya Tserkov, in which the incident was called "a manifestation of incitement to interreligious hostility." According to Father Nikolai, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs demonstrated their selectivity.

"And where is the similar content of the comments of the Foreign Ministry, when there was committed an attack on the night of 28 to 29 July on the temple of St. Spyridon of Tremithon in Kiev, where I serve as a rector?” the Spokesman of the UOC noted. “Where are the relevant comments, when they have seized, from 2014 to today, several dozen temples of the UOC in Western Ukraine and beat and threw our people on the street?”

The priest asks himself a question – is systemic lawlessness against temples, communities and believers of the UOC harmful to Ukraine, is it not an infringement of freedom of conscience and incitement of interreligious hostility?

"If you protect, then protect everyone, and if not, then the best thing is to remain silent altogether," Father Nikolai said. "Evident is the selective approach of the reputable state body to religious organizations."

On August 17, in Belaya Tserkov, unknown people destroyed the place reserved for the construction of the Greek Catholic church. Representatives of the UGCC appealed to law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident.

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