The event celebrates the 975th anniversary of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the 100th anniversary of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve.
This was reported by the State Service of Ukraine on Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS).
During the roundtable discussion titled “Freedom of Conscience Under Occupation: Persecution of Religious Communities in the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine,” participants addressed several critical issues. These included the documentation of violations of the right to freedom of belief, systematic religious persecution in the occupied territories, pressure on clergy and believers, damage to religious buildings, their use for military purposes, the closure of religious educational institutions, and the obstruction of missionary activities.
In his report, Viktor Yelensky, Chairman of the DESS, asserted that Russia is a natural enemy of religious freedom, along with its main allies — China, North Korea, and Iran. He emphasized, “A person who recognizes only God’s authority above themselves and refuses to worship an earthly ‘master’ already poses a challenge to totalitarian worldviews.”
Yelensky noted that the Russian Federation’s repressive practices regarding religious persecution are intensifying in the occupied territories of Ukraine. He pointed out that these practices are even more cruel than those that existed during the late Soviet era. For instance, Jehovah’s Witnesses, who faced 2 to 3 years of imprisonment for refusing military service during the Brezhnev era, now receive sentences of 6 to 8 years solely for their religious beliefs.
Additionally, Yelensky mentioned that religious organizations are increasingly keeping records of destroyed places of worship, confiscated property, and affected clergy who have been imprisoned or murdered.
Our task is not to overlook a single instance of persecution by the occupiers, and not to lose track of a single human fate,” he emphasized.
Yelensky further noted that significant evidence of these violations has yet to be properly documented. Yelensky encouraged citizens to contact the DESS if they have information about persecution, unlawful detention, or other religiously motivated human rights violations, assuring them that the Service guarantees confidentiality for any shared information.
Finally, Yelensky highlighted the importance of consistently presenting Ukrainian testimonies on international platforms. He cited meetings and consultations with U.S. Congress members and European parliamentarians, where representatives of Ukrainian Evangelical Protestant Churches were able to describe the scale of religious persecution and the crimes committed by the Russian Federation.
The roundtable participants agreed on the necessity for more precise and professional documentation of religiously motivated human rights violations. They emphasized the creation of a platform to unite individuals and organizations interested in this critical work.