UOC-KP: There is no truth in OCU’s statement on Poroshenko

The head of the UOC-KP Filaret Denisenko did not initiate the case against the former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, the Kyiv Patriarchate said. Photo: file.liga.net

The press service of the UOC-KP commented on the statement of the PCU regarding the criminal case of the former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and emphasized that there is no truth in it.

“The latest statement of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine shows that it, unfortunately, it is engaged in the information PR campaign of Petro Poroshenko and the authority of the Church is used exclusively for political purposes. Conclusions and assessments are false. We reaffirm that in today's address of the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (the Orthodox Church of Ukraine) there is only half-truth, but no truth,” as emphasized on the website of the UOC-KP.

The Kyiv Patriarchate said that the criminal case against Poroshenko was not initiated by the head of the UOC-KP Filaret Denisenko, but "believers whose rights have been violated". They emphasized that Filaret did not oppose the existence of the OCU or the Tomos, and the church structure of Epiphany Dumenko received the document on autocephaly thanks to the head of the Kyiv Patriarchate, who “did the most” for this.

The press service of the UOC-KP stated that Filaret opposed the OCU’s dependence on the Phanar and “fights the illegal deregistration of the UOC-KP, which took place on January 30, 2019, during the presidency of Petro Poroshenko”.

“The purpose of the criminal proceedings is to protect the violated right to freedom of conscience of believers and the clergy of the Kyiv Patriarchate, and not to terminate the activities of the OCU. The Kyiv Patriarchate at the Local Council on June 20, 2019, decided to withdraw from the process of the accession of the OCU to the Kyiv Metropolis and has the legal and canonical right to separate existence, the UOC-KP noted. “The Kyiv Patriarchate is against the so-called liquidation commission of the UOC, which was formed on July 27, 2019. It is illegal because it is a direct interference in the affairs of another Church - the UOC-KP, and has nothing to do with the Kyiv Patriarchate."

The press service of the religious organization led by Filaret Denisenko also recalled the secrecy of the pre-trial investigation and the fact that any comments and statements on the case of violation of freedom of conscience will be made public in court hearings.

Earlier, the lawyer of the UOC-KP Neonila Tkachenko said that the case against Poroshenko was opened at the claim of the Kyiv Patriarchate. The former head of state himself is convinced that the criminal case against him was opened because of the Tomos for the OCU.

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