A round table dedicated to religious freedom in Ukraine was held at the Ukrainian House in Washington on February 10. The themed of the meeting is Religious Persecution in the Occupied Territories of Donbas and Crimea.
The event was held during the visit of a delegation from Ukraine to participate in the Ukrainian prayer dinner, "Slovo pro Slovo" reports.
The Round Table brought together representatives of the largest US human rights organizations in the field of religion and freedom of speech, such as International Religious Freedom, ADF international, Baptist World Alliance.
Samuel Brownback, U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom (2018-2021), who is well aware of the situation in Ukraine and has repeatedly visited Kyiv, said: "Religious freedom is a fundamental right, not a subject of discussion or blackmail. Unfortunately, in times of aggression, Russia shows its true, non-democratic face, and this must be stopped. That's why we're here, holding this working meeting."
Bishop Igor Bandura of the Union of evangelical Christians-Baptists also reported on the difficult situation with freedom of speech in the territories not controlled by Ukraine, especially in Crimea, where churches are under threat of mass persecution and called for supporting Ukraine in this difficult situation.
Anatoly Urbansky, MP of Ukraine, called for defending the freedom of speech in Ukraine and real support for churches: "If there are more churches, there will be fewer prisons."
US Senate spokeswoman Susan Ochipini spoke about US and Senate support and plans to strengthen the US role in ensuring freedom of speech.
Following the round table, it was decided to develop a program for the protection of religious freedom in the occupied territories.