There is a certain coincidence between the messages the Kremlin sends about the alleged oppression of religious freedom in Ukraine and what propagandists in the United States say. The Kremlin has set not only a standard for persecution and oppression of religion, but it has also set a standard for cynicism in using the idea of religious freedom. It destroys all “unreliable” religious organizations while promoting narratives about religious freedom as if saying, "Look! Ukraine violates these standards!"
Archimandrite Cyril Hovorun, professor of ecclesiology, international relations and ecumenism, stated this in an interview with Voice of America on February 5.
According to him, it is very typical when the Kremlin accuses others of its own deeds.
“This is the best smokescreen. To hide its own crimes, the Kremlin accuses others of said misdeeds. This tactic is absolutely cynical. Thus I say that the Kremlin has set a new standard of cynicism in the abuse of religious freedom. It works in some circles, when Tucker Carlson and other bloggers, you could say propagandists in America, pick up these Kremlin messages and use them for their own purposes,” said Cyril Govorun.
He added that Ukrainian evangelicals, Orthodox, Greek Catholics and Catholics are doing a tremendous job of bringing the truth about this war to communities in the United States:
“And this is very good. It is important that the religious environment is active, as it plays an important role, and we need to work with it. In fact, such work is being done on many horizontal levels.
Orthodox Christians are trying to do the same, and Greek Catholics and Catholics are doing the same. In other words, everyone is working on their own part of the frontline, as they say, this information front. And, this work brings certain results.
This is not, however, a hundred percent result. We see that sometimes even the most rational arguments fail because people no longer think in terms of facts but in terms of this after-truth. Yet, something has to be done, and we are doing it. As I said, the work is underway and has its results.
Of course, the United States' position in the world is being revised, and it is not yet clear what the vision will ultimately be. Still, it is important for us to convey this message, to hope that despite all the obstacles, we will be able to prove and show the American public, those who make decisions, those who vote, and those who pay taxes, that it is important for Americans to support Ukraine, it is in the United States' own interests, and it is also in line with universal morality.”
Cyril Hovorun emphasized that today it is very important to get justice for Ukraine.
“We must seek justice for Ukraine through tribunals, through various forms of restoration of justice,” the theologian summarized.