MPs to appeal anti-church laws before Constitutional Court

MP Vadim Novinsky

This law is very important for the life of the Orthodox in Ukraine, and it should not have been adopted with such gross violations of the regulations, said MP Vadim Novinsky on the “Ukraina” TV channel.

“This law is directed against one confession – the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, for the sake of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which was established at the end of last year,” said V. Novinsky. “Now, after the bill was passed with violations of the regulations, we registered the resolution to cancel the vote. Further, if it has no effect, we will go to the Constitutional Court, which should repeal this law as unconstitutional.”

On his Facebook page, V. Novinsky recalled that the so-called “anti-church” law No 4128-d, “written under dictation from the Presidential Administration” and “discriminating and violating the rights of most denominations and religious organizations of Ukraine”, was adopted with gross violations of the Law on Regulations and with the help of mass “button-pushing”.

“My colleagues from the Opposition Bloc’s faction registered a resolution abolishing the voting results for this bill and demand that the presiding officer re-vote it in accordance with legal procedures. We also prepared a corresponding submission to the Constitutional Court on violation of the Constitution during the vote on bill No 4128-d and bill No 5309, in fact, on forcible renaming the UOC. I want to assure everyone – our political force – the Opposition bloc – uses all legal opportunities to protect the rights and freedoms of millions of believers in Ukraine,” the MP said.

On January 17, 2019, the Verkhovna Rada adopted Bill No 4128 on changes in subordination by religious communities. According to experts, the hasty adoption of the bill immediately as law, without a second reading and despite numerous expert comments, threatens religious freedom in Ukraine.

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