20 signatures short in the Rada for Bill 8371 to be put to vote

Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Photo: lexinform

In the Verkhovna Rada, 221 signatures from members of parliament have been collected to bring Bill No. 8371, aimed at effectively banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, to a second reading vote. According to LB.ua, only MPs from the "European Solidarity" and "Holos" parties have signed the bill in full.

"LB.ua received a list of those who refused to sign. It includes 146 MPs, particularly those currently under investigation, such as Nestor Shufrych. Among those who did not support the bill are about 90 MPs from the 'Servant of the People' party. Two MPs from 'Batkivshchyna' did not support it. Only one MP, Yuriy Zahorodny, supported it from the 'Platform for Life and Peace' (formerly OPZZh). The factions 'European Solidarity' and 'Holos' fully signed the bill 'On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding the Activities of Religious Organizations in Ukraine' (No. 8371)," the report states.

According to LB.ua, there are currently 221 signatures "for" the bill. Previously, the speaker of parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, stated that 240 signatures from MPs are needed for Bill No. 8371 to be considered.

LB.ua reports that after the National Prayer Breakfast (scheduled for this Saturday, July 29), about seven Protestant MPs from various parliamentary groups might join the initiative.

As the UOJ reported, the Rivne City Council urged the Rada to urgently adopt the anti-church law.

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