The U.S. reacts to the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has sent an official letter to Ukrainian authorities through Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova expressing concern regarding the potential enactment of a law that could pave the way for the banning of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

The commission believes that draft law No. 8371, which is being prepared for its second reading, poses a threat to “religious freedom or beliefs.” They argue that the wording of the draft law is too vague and could allow for the punishment of religious communities without evidence of their unlawful activities.

The commission urges that the draft law be submitted for review by the Venice Commission before it is put to a vote.

The commission deliberated on the draft law following a letter requesting such action from Robert Amsterdam, a lawyer representing the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Commenting on the commission’s decision, Amsterdam stated that the initiators of the draft law, if enacted, could fall under American sanctions.

“This draft law not only exposes parliamentarians – such as Stefanchuk, Knyazhitsky, Poturaev, Kravchuk, and others – to the threat of American sanctions for violating basic human rights. The position taken by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom leaves no doubt about how draft law 8371 is perceived in the United States. This draft law will also portray President Zelensky in a role he does not deserve. Because of draft law 8371, he will go down in history as a man who illegally imprisoned priests and destroyed the Ukrainian church for political purposes that are actually formulated in the interests of his political opponents. Unfortunately, Zelensky has become a hostage of ultranationalists,” Amsterdam said.

The lawyer also sent a complaint to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights criticizing the aforementioned draft law.