UN report: Authorities have not ceased pressure on the UOC

UN. Photo: ukraine.un.org

Pressure from authorities on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) continues, as indicated in the report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for the period from June 1 to August 31, 2024. The report highlights numerous instances of court rulings and arrests of UOC clergy, raising concerns within international human rights circles. Specifically, the report documents the following cases of violations of UOC believers' rights:

Bans on UOC Activities

OHCHR recorded actions by the Lviv District Administrative Court, which on June 17, 2024, upheld the decision of the Drohobych City Council to ban UOC activities in the district due to national security considerations. However, as noted by the UN, the court did not explain "how the ban was deemed necessary and proportional to protect public safety or order, as required by art. 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)." Additionally, at least seven similar court decisions have been made since February 2022, five of which have become final.

Arrests and Pressure on the Clergy

On June 22, 2024, Metropolitan Jonathan (Yeletskikh) of Tulchyn and Bratslav was released as part of a prisoner exchange with Russia, despite the Vinnytsia Court of Appeals having upheld his five-year sentence for "justification of the armed conflict" shortly before. The report notes that "UOC clergy members reported pressure to confess and agree to exchange with the Russian Federation."

Metropolitan Arseniy and Other Cases

Metropolitan Arseniy, who has been in a pre-trial detention center for 114 days, faced an extension of his detention until October 13. He is under criminal investigation for "spreading information about the movement of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," which could result in an eight-year prison sentence.

Adoption of Law No. 3894-IX

On August 20, 2024, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed a law banning the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and other religious organizations affiliated with it. The law also prohibits any religious organizations that could be used "for the propaganda of the ideology of the Russian World." The Law raises concerns regarding its compliance with international human rights standards. In particular, "it refers to national security as a ground for restrictions on the freedom of religion or belief and the freedom of religious associations." However, neither the ICCPR nor the European Convention on Human Rights include “national security” among the permissible grounds for such a restriction, according to the report.

As the UOJ reported, on March 26, 2024, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights published a report on the "Human Rights Situation in Ukraine" for the last three months on the United Nations Ukraine website. The UN stated that "Ukrainian Orthodox Church clergy and parishioners continued to face intimidation." 

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