Ukraine needs to establish a serious legislative safeguard against the influence of the Russian Federation on faith and religion.
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, stated this in a comment to Ukrinform, commenting on the consideration of a draft law on the prohibition of the activities of religious organizations affiliated with Russia in Ukraine.
"The mandatory stage of reviewing the draft law is its consideration in the committee. We expect the release of this document (on the prohibition of religious organizations associated with Russia – Ed.) from the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy of the Verkhovna Rada, headed by Mykita Poturayev. He assured everyone that the committee members would not delay the consideration of the relevant project. But for us, it is crucial to develop a mechanism that would serve as a serious preventive measure against any influence from the aggressor state on such an internal aspect of our citizens' lives as faith and religion," said the speaker of the Ukrainian parliament.
Stefanchuk expressed hope that the humanitarian committee would carefully study this draft law and prepare a high-quality version that members of parliament would support during the voting in the parliament's second reading.
In January 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers registered draft law No. 8371 in the Verkhovna Rada regarding the prohibition of religious organizations in Ukraine, according to which the activities of the UOC MP may be terminated. The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy recommended that the parliament adopt this document in the first reading.
On October 19, 2023, the Verkhovna Rada adopted in the first reading a government draft law on the prohibition of the activities of religious organizations associated with the Russian Federation in Ukraine.