Ukrainian Cabinet Approves Plan For Return Of Religious Property

18.10.2002, 16:20

On 27 September 2002, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved a plan to return property and guarantee the rights of religious communities. Plan # 564-р was worked out to ensure the implementation of the presidential decree “On Urgent Measures for Combating the Negative Consequences of Totalitarian Policies of the Former Soviet Union regarding Religion and Restoration of the Violated Rights of Churches and Religious Organizations,” issued on 21 March 2002.

The State Committee on Religious Matters will coordinate the activities of administrative bodies to implement the plan. According to the press service of the Ukrainian government, the Cabinet of Ministers assigned the respective ministries and departments to work out a legislative bill on the allotment of land to religious organizations. The State Committee on Land Resources, the Ministry of Justice and the State Committee on Religious Matters will be responsible for the bill, which is to be completed by the end of 2003. In addition, the Cabinet of Ministers assigned the Ministry of Culture, the State Committee on Archives, the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the regional administrations and the Kyiv and Simferopol municipal authorities to study the issue. Then, by December 2002 they are to submit their proposals on the mechanisms for the partial return of religious attributes, literature and documents, which are preserved in museums and archives, to churches and religious organizations.

Source: press service of the Ukrainian government