Synod of UOC-Kyivan Patriarchate Asks President to Veto Law on Demographic Register

The Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate of October 22, 2012, addressed Ukraine’s president with a call to veto the Law “On the unified state demographic register and documents confirming the Ukrainian citizenship, identifying the person or their social status,” which was passed by the Supreme Council on October 2.

According to the bishops, the law violates basic human rights (including the right to private life and protection from illegal interference in it) and presents a potential threat of criminal influence on people through illegal use of the register’s data, the website of UOC-KP reported.

The Synod also criticized a number of other bills, particularly, Bill 10221 “On making alterations to certain legislative acts of Ukraine (regarding the activity of the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Culture, other central bodies of executive power whose activity is directed and coordinated through respective ministers and the State Space Agency),” on passing in the first reading  Bill 8711 “On making alterations to certain legislative acts (regarding the protection of children’s right to safe information space)” and Bill 10447 “On making alterations to the Law of Ukraine “On protection of social morality” (regarding the state supervision).”

“We fully support the position of the heads and representatives of churches and religious organizations who on October 17, 2012, addressed Ukraine’s President Yanukovych with the request to veto the Law “On making alterations to certain legislative acts of Ukraine (regarding the activity of the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Culture, other central bodies of executive power whose activity is directed and coordinated through respective ministers and the State Space Agency)” in the part concerning alterations to the Law on the Freedom of Worship and Religious Organizations.