An order was issued by the Russian-installed occupant government banning the activities of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) in the occupied territory of the Zaporizhzhia region. Additionally, organizations such as the Knights of Columbus and Caritas, engaged in social service, were also prohibited. This directive was issued by the so-called head of the military-civil administration of the occupied Zaporizhzhia region, Yevhen Balytskyi, and was published on his official website.
The Information Department of the UGCC recently learned about this, although the document is dated December 26, 2022.
The ban on UGCC activities in the occupied territory was unjustifiably based on claims of storing explosive materials and firearms within religious buildings and auxiliary premises. The authorities accused the UGCC of violating Russian Federation legislation regarding religious and civil organizations. Allegations included parishioners' participation in mass disturbances and anti-Russian rallies in March-April 2022, distributing literature inciting violations of Russian territorial integrity, and the active involvement of UGCC communities in extremist activities and the propagation of neo-Nazi ideas within the Zaporizhzhia region.
In addition to the UGCC ban, the Russian-backed occupant authorities also ordered:
- Transferring movable and immovable property and land plots of the Church under the control of the military-civil administration of the occupied Zaporizhzhia region.
- Terminating lease agreements for premises and land plots previously concluded between the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and local authorities in the Zaporizhzhia region.
- Refraining from registering the religious community of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church with the occupying authorities in the Zaporizhzhia region.
- Prohibiting individuals who held leadership and administrative positions in the UGCC from registering civil and religious organizations in the occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia region.
Furthermore, apart from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the 'directive' by the Russian-administered authorities also addresses the prohibition of activities by other organizations, including those engaged in social services and humanitarian support in occupied and liberated territories: the Order of the Knights of Columbus and the Charity Fund 'Caritas': 'Caritas Canada', 'Caritas USA', 'Caritas Polska', 'Caritas Czech Republic', 'Caritas-Donetsk', and 'Caritas-Melitopol'.
Governor Balytskyi has placed responsibility for enforcing this 'directive' on his security deputy.
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church urges international organizations to do everything possible to ensure the protection of religious freedom in the occupied territories of Ukraine.
It is noteworthy that on November 16, 2022, in Berdiansk, the Russian-installed authorities arrested two Redemptorist priests, Ivan Levytskyi and Bohdan Helet, who are currently in Russian captivity. Additionally, in December 2022, all UGCC priests who remained in Melitopol after the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia region by Russia in the spring of 2022 were 'deported'.