Kyivan Patriarchate Criticizes Interference of Moscow Patriarchate in Gas Matters

KYIV – The Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) criticized the interference of the Moscow Patriarchate in gas matters. “The church should not deal with questions of gas sale,” is the title of the commentary of the press service of the UOC-KP published on March 19, 2010, regarding the address of the Moscow Patriarchate to the Russian government to allow Ukrainian chemical companies to buy gas directly from Gasprom.

Representatives of the press service of the UOC-KP commented to Ukrainian journalists that they are surprised by such activity of the Moscow Patriarchate. “It should not be a mediator for economic matters. Even more so since there is an expert committee Economics and Ethics and a public organization World Russian People’s Sobor attached to the Moscow Patriarchate – it is more fitting for these public structures to deal with such matters.”

The representatives of the Kyivan Patriarchate also stressed that the question of gas supply is strategically important for Ukraine and therefore the Moscow Patriarchate by its actions not only interferes in commercial activities but also infringes upon the sovereignty of our state. “The Moscow Patriarchate does not consider Ukraine a sovereign state and this address is just more proof of that,” stressed the representatives of the press center.