Lawyers of UOC record a video testimony for international organizations

Archpriest Nikita Chekman and Oleg Denisov. Photo: Screenshot from the YouTube channel NGO Public Advocacy.

The president of the human rights organization NGO Public Advocacy, Oleg Denisov, conducted an interview with the UOC lawyer, Archpriest Nikita Chekman. This video testimony about violations of the rights of UOC clergy and believers was published on the NGO Public Advocacy YouTube channel on March 26, 2024, and will be submitted to international organizations.

UOC lawyer Father Nikita Chekman spoke about specific instances of violations of the rights of UOC believers, such as the so-called "transfers" of UOC communities to the OCU, forcible seizure of temples, searches at his workplace as a lawyer, arrests of UOJ journalists, and more.

"We will draw the attention of the international community to these facts," said Oleg Denisov. "We will distribute this material as your testimony, and based on it, we will prepare the relevant legal international appeal."

Denisov emphasized that when it comes to religious issues, all international communities and countries handle this sphere with care. Especially in the case of citizens who simply practice their faith, as with UOC believers, "there should be no claims against them."

Denisov concluded that special attention from international human rights defenders will be drawn to the violation of guarantees of legal activities for defenders of the UOC.

"We will try to organize your speech at the UN Human Rights Session as soon as possible. We will need to prepare complaints to UN special rapporteurs and to the EU committees responsible for protecting freedom of speech and religious freedoms, notably for human rights defenders and lawyers," said the head of NGO Public Advocacy.

As reported by the UOJ, UN human rights defenders were informed about the criminal prosecution of UOC metropolitans.

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