Poturaev: Grounds for banning the Church can include media publications

MP Mykyta Poturaev. Photo: Ukrinform

Member of the Verkhovna Rada from the Servant of the People faction, Chairman of the parliamentary committee on humanitarian and information policy Mykyta Poturaev, in an interview with Ukrinform, explained how, after amendments, bill No. 8371 expands the list of grounds on which DESS (State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, - Ed.) would conduct examinations of Church communities. It is envisaged that after this examination, according to law No. 8371, a community can be banned based on its connection with Russia.

"We have expanded the toolkit for such research. Now DESS can use not only examination but also other materials: appeals from state authorities, local self-government bodies, publications in the media, data from the Security Service of Ukraine, appeals from public organizations regarding the activities of Moscow Patriarchate communities in Ukraine. In the previous version, such appeals were not a reason for DESS to take any measures against an organization that positions itself as Ukrainian but acts against the interests of Ukraine. Now there is a whole list of organizations and institutions, from the materials of which DESS can draw conclusions about the subordination of the church, the leading center of which is located in the aggressor state," said the MP.

After the examination, the law assumes that the community must rectify the situation within 30 to 60 days. During this time, the community can challenge the DESS's decision, speaking of which one can try to engage in dialogue with the State Ethnic Policy Service and present its counterarguments instead of immediately going to court. If the DESS officials agree with them, they may revoke their decision.

"Otherwise, and if the prescription was not complied with within the legislatively defined period, then DESS is obliged (not can, but obliged) to go to court with a representation to terminate the activities of such a religious organization. Then the court makes a decision. If the DESS arguments are convincing, then the court terminates the organization's activities – it cannot carry out transactions, conduct activities. I reiterate once again: everything will be decided through the court," Poturaev said.

As the UOJ reported, Robert Destro, Assistant Secretary of State from 2017 to 2021 and a key member of Donald Trump's presidential campaign team, stated that Bill No. 8371 is an affront to human rights.

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