Hate crimes against UOC are committed in Ukraine, – expert

In Ukraine, the so-called hate crimes against dissenters, in particular the clergy and parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, are committed. This is said by the representative of the expert centre of the World Russian National Council (WRNC) Marine Voskanyan, reports RIA Novosti.

In her speech at the OSCE Conference on the Human Dimension on the freedom of religion and belief on June 23, Voskanyan described the situation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the state of its clergy and parishioners, and the violations committed against this organization. According to her, although in terms of number this denomination is the largest in the country, the official Ukrainian authorities, in her opinion, discriminate against it and create an extremely negative situation around the Church.

As an example of such persecution, she recalled the existence of the site "Mirotvorets" (Peacemaker), which publishes contact information of the so-called traitors of the motherland, who then are threatened.

"In particular, it is known that Oles Buzin was killed precisely after the publication of his personal details on it.The information is laid out with a completely understandable purpose – to turn against these people the so-called activists who, as we understand, are simply bandits, representatives of so-called paramilitary formations like the "Right Sector". And on the lists of this "Mirotvorets", there are some representatives of the UOC clergy," Voskanyan said.

She believes that since the state does not oppose this phenomenon, it can be concluded that it encourages it. "That is, in fact, the creation of an atmosphere of hatred against a number of people is encouraged on the grounds that they do not correspond to some ideological course taken by the state.

The crimes that are committed against these people, the European courts of law could classify at close inspection as hate crimes. From our point of view, in Ukraine now the state condones the creation of an atmosphere in which hate crimes against dissidents are committed," she added.

In addition, speakers from the Council told the OSCE that in Ukraine "the ruling circles are trying to outlaw the country's largest religious organization, which is a blatant violation of the fundamental civil rights and freedoms of millions of parishioners of the UOC in Ukraine."