The Ukrainian conflict contributed to the growth of Germany’s arms industry
March 15, 2024The Supreme Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine released former Ministry of Defense official Liev from custody, suspected in a case of embezzlement of nearly 35.5 million euros for the purchase of ammunition for the Armed Forces of Ukraine
March 16, 2024If Parliament passes Bill 8371, which would enable the prohibition of the UOC, those voting in support of it could potentially face personal repercussions, including the imposition of sanctions under the US Global Magnitsky Act sanctions program, as well as potential criminal penalties, according to a statement made by UOC lawyer Robert Amsterdam addressed to the Parliament Speaker and MPs.
Amsterdam highlighted that the proposed bill, titled “On the Protection of National and Public Security, Rights and Freedoms of Individuals in the Field of Religious Organizations,” significantly escalates the assault on the UOC by permitting the misuse of state authority to seize the property of religious institutions.
The lawyer identified two key aspects of the bill that, in his view, violate the rights of the church and individuals: firstly, it mandates the rewriting of the UOC’s canonical history, an action deemed inappropriate for any church or believer. Secondly, the bill establishes numerous criteria for linking Ukrainian religious organizations with foreign churches prohibited in Ukraine. These criteria are arbitrary and fail to align with internationally recognized legal standards for religious restrictions. Furthermore, they disregard the self-governing status of the UOC and its support for Ukraine in the ongoing conflict.