International observers monitor religious rights and freedoms in Ukraine
On January 30, the Monitoring Mission of the High Commissioner of the United Nations on human rights in Ukraine Clare Whelan and Natalia Pylypiv met in the city of Kremenets in Ternopil region with priests and employees of the UOC (MP) Ternopil diocese and parishioners of Kolosiv, Bashuky , Yekaterynivka and Kuta villages. According to the website of the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC (MP), “in these villages adherents of the Kyivan Patriarchate with the support of radical groups have repeatedly applied force towards the faithful of the UOC (MP) and threatened them with physical violence,” During the meeting, the monitoring mission was presented the materials, which, according to representatives of the UOC (MP), attest to violations of the rights of believers of the UOC (MP) in Ternopil. The reported information was witnessed and described in detail by priests and parish communities of the UOC (MP). Employees of the Office of the High Commissioner of the United Nations on human rights in Ukraine heard the message of the UOC (MP), expressing hope for further cooperation within the framework of the monitoring mission. The mission publishes monthly reports on the situation of human rights in Ukraine and offers recommendations to improve it. The following day, February 1, in the framework of their visit to Ukraine, the speakers of the parliaments of several countries - Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, of Denmark, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - visited St. Michael's Monastery of the UOC-KP. Guests were greeted in the courtyard of the monastery by vicar Bishop Agapit of Vyshgorod. First he told the audience the history of the foundation, demolition and restoration of the monastery, and invited everyone to St Michael's Cathedral. There, the delegation had the opportunity to listen to spiritual songs performed by the choir of the Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy and lit candles, the UOC-KP website reports.
Representatives of the UN Monitoring Mission, as well as parliamentarians of the Nordic and Baltic countries continue visiting the religious communities of Ukraine to monitor religious rights and freedoms in the country, "Religion in Ukraine" reports.
The leaders of parliaments visited the monastery’s Refectory Church in honor of St. Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, where the abbot told the guests about the role that St Michael's Monastery played during the Revolution of Dignity and in what way the church was used during the events of February 2014.
