UOC hierarch at UN: Criminal cases for rhetoric should be terminated

Metropolitan Theodosiy (Snigirev). Photo: Screenshot of the video by the Cherkasy Diocese

In his speeches during the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv spoke about violations of the rights of religious organizations and believers of the UOC, and specifically addressed the criminal cases opened against UOC metropolitans and believers for their statements about the non-canonical status of other confessions and violations of believers' rights. This was reported by the Cherkasy Diocese on June 26, 2024.

The hierarch noted that international law, particularly the Rabat Plan of Action, recognizes the right of religious leaders and believers to speak out about the non-canonical status of other confessions.

The archbishop pointed out that, "as noted by the Human Rights Committee, various forms of disrespect towards any confession, not amounting to incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence, should not be prohibited."

"In the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, it is also established that before imposing criminal liability for religious statements, prosecuting their authors in court, or imposing other restrictions that interfere with the exercise of the relevant freedoms, the authorities must thoroughly establish specific facts. They must assess the statement (speech act) in light of six criteria developed at the international level," he noted.

The UOC hierarch emphasized that since the sermons of the UOC metropolitans do not contain calls for violence against other confessions, nor do they call for depriving these confessions of any civil rights (discrimination), all criminal cases opened based on such rhetoric should be terminated.

It is noted that during this session, oral statements in the format of video speeches were submitted to several meetings: Interactive Dialogues with the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers; the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; and the meeting on the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Ukraine.

As the UOJ wrote, on June 27, the court will decide on the measure of restraint for Metropolitan Theodosiy. The basis for the possible imprisonment of the hierarch was his sermon to one of the persecuted communities in the Cherkasy region.

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