The Verkhovna Rada passed the first reading of a bill banning the Moscow Patriarchate

MP Iryna Herashchenko reported this on her Facebook page.

"The first step towards driving Moscow priests out of Ukrainian land has been taken!" she said.

Gerashchenko explained what the project entails:

Prohibition of the activities of religious organizations whose management is located outside Ukraine.

The activities of a religious organization can be terminated through legal proceedings upon the request of an authorized Center for Countering Russian Propaganda.

The Center for Countering Russian Propaganda is authorized to:

⁃ Conduct religious studies expertise of the activities of religious organizations regarding their cooperation with Russia.
⁃ Issue directives for the removal of violations identified as a result of the expertise within one month.
⁃ File a lawsuit with the court to terminate the activities of a religious organization if it does not comply with the directives for the removal of violations identified as a result of the religious studies expertise within the specified time frame.

"All 'European Solidarity' MP supported this bill. Despite the fact that 'European Solidarity' registered project # 8221 ", On ensuring the strengthening of national security in the field of freedom of conscience and the activities of religious organizations", a year ago, which comprehensively addresses the issue of protecting national security from the influence of the Moscow Church, we voted for the government bill to move the issue forward.

We are preparing amendments for the second reading," the MP emphasized.