Poturaiev explains the procedure for banning the Moscow Patriarchate after the law is passed
Mykyta Poturaiev, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, stated this in a commentary to Ukrinform.
“After the adoption of this law, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (although there are many reasons to doubt its statement about severing all ties with the Moscow Patriarchate) will begin the processes of real and final separation from Moscow. It would be preferable, of course, if the process of final separation from Moscow was followed by the unification with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. This will take some time, indeed,” said Poturaiev.
He noted that this does not mean that the law will not be in force during said period.
“The law states that it comes into force a month after being signed. This is due to certain procedural peculiarities when such an important and politically complex bill comes into force. It also gives three months (and this is the minimum period, as in other cases, we usually prescribe six months) for the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience to develop regulations for this law. This includes, among other things, provisions on the formation of the commission, which should be independent of the executive branch and which will conduct research on the existence of ties, affiliation with Moscow, or research on the facts of the spread of the “Russian world” ideology,” the MP explained.
Thus, four months from the moment the law is adopted will be spent on its entry into force and the development of regulations.
“Thus, in 4 months, the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (SSEPFC) will be able to start forming a commission. This will also take some time. The commission will then conduct research, which will take another 2 months, for a total of 6. And then, if violations are found, the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience will issue an order and have 2 months to fulfill it, taking into account the administrative appeal procedure,” Poturaiev said.
