VR Speaker: If you are Ukrainian, you must go to the Ukrainian Church

Ruslan Stefanchuk. Photo: interfax.com.ua

Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk said in an interview with the "Interfax-Ukraine" news agency that the authorities will "perform any legal actions, including termination of contracts" on Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to hand it over to the "Ukrainian Church".

"We are not going the way of groundless statements but of concrete actions. If a threat to Ukraine's security is identified, any lawful actions will be taken, including the termination of contracts. I would like to remind you that it was under Yanukovych and Azarov that perpetual contracts on certain facilities were signed. As far as I know, now all of them are being reviewed: a powerful legal service is working to dissolve them, declaring them null and void, and transferring them to the Ukrainian Church – for Ukrainian religious organizations. So, this case is ongoing," he said.

He also said that the Church is not about priests or books, but about the people who go there.

"We should start with the fact that everyone must decide for himself: If I am a Ukrainian, I go to the Ukrainian church. And the state will do its job to provide Ukrainians with such an opportunity," Stefanchuk said.

As reported, in December 2022, the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada expressed his belief that MPs would soon adopt a bill regarding a religious organization that poses a threat to the national security of Ukraine.

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