Lawyer: Should Stefanchuk refuse, others may write to the Venice Commission

Human rights defender Oleg Denisov. Photo: spzh.news

MPs may send an appeal to the Venice Commission over the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church not only to the speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, but also to other representatives of the Ukrainian government. The head of the UN human rights organisation Public Advocacy, Oleg Denisov, told the UOJ.

According to him, there are other civil servants among the top state officials who have the authority to apply to international organisations with a plea to carry out this or that expertise.

At the same time, the lawyer noted that Stefanchuk is not obliged to send the appeal of the MPs, as it is only his right, but not an obligation.

"Such actions remain within the framework of a political or private initiative, which, incidentally, can also be realised through officials and bodies of the Council of Europe, including such as PACE. <...> In case the head of the Ukrainian parliament refuses such an appeal, alternatives should be sought," he added.

As reported by the UOJ, the MPs called on the speaker of the Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk to appeal to the Venice Commission because of the ban of the UOC.

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