Maj.-Gen. of Justice: ‘Hero of Ukraine’ title awarded to Filaret illegally

Major-General of Justice Vasily Vovk, the ex-head of the Main Investigation Department of the SBU and an expert on state security issues

The decree of the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on awarding the title of the Hero of Ukraine to the "honorable acting spiritual mentor" of the OCU "Patriarch" Filaret Denisenko is illegal, Major-General of Justice Vasily Vovk, the ex-head of the Main Investigation Department of the SBU and an expert on state security issues, said in his blog on "Censor. Net".

"In accordance with the Statute of the Hero of Ukraine, the President of Ukraine is not empowered to make a decision on awarding the Hero of Ukraine title," wrote Vovk.

Major-General of Justice recalled that the President should receive a recommendation of the relevant bodies (the Verkhovna Rada, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine ... ministries ... and so on, their exhaustive list is given in the Statute) and the award sheet of the established model, and the nomination of the candidate for the title of the Hero of Ukraine is carried out at the place of work of the person.

It is noteworthy that V. Vovk even suggested a way to correct the situation.

"Proposal: To make by morning at least a recommendation by the Commission on State Awards and Heraldry under the President of Ukraine, which is contained in the list of authorized bodies," he concluded his post.

On January 8, 2019, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed a decree on conferring the title of Hero of Ukraine to the "honorary acting spiritual mentor" of the newly-established church structure "Patriarch" Filaret Denisenko with an award of the Order of State.

Earlier, deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted to include the anniversary of Filaret Denisenko in the list of memorable dates for 2019.

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