The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk reported on the results of a meeting with members of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organisations (AUCCRO)
The main topic of the conversation was the latest developments around religious issues and their regulation at the legislative level.
In particular, they discussed a number of legislative initiatives that have been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Among other things, special attention was paid to the draft law “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on the Activities of Religious Organisations in Ukraine” (No. 8371).
The Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament emphasised the main provision of the document, namely: the draft law will not allow the activities of any religious organisations affiliated with the centres of influence of religious organisations whose governing centre is located outside Ukraine in a state that carries out military aggression against Ukraine.
He also said that following a meeting with members of the AUCCRO, he received a letter stating that churches and religious organisations support the consideration and adoption of the document by the Ukrainian Parliament.
“And by doing so, they all recognise that these relations should be regulated by law. The AUCCRO is against the russian church in Ukraine and is aware that russia has no right to influence Ukrainian religious organisations. Everyone unanimously recognises the inevitability of legal liability of any person for violating the laws of Ukraine, regardless of whether the person is wearing a cassock or not,” Ruslan Stefanchuk said of the main points of the letter.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine noted that the Parliament will consider all these and other proposals submitted by the AUCCRO and make a balanced decision.
“Today, we are all concerned about Ukrainian society and about preventing the russian enemy from penetrating our hearts and souls. Ukrainian religious organisations (associations) should be with the Ukrainian people and with Ukraine without any influence from russia!” the Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament stressed.