Speech of Metropolitan Luka of zaporozhia of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at the International Conference in Bulgaria: blockade of aggression against the church – DEFENSE OF ORTHODOXYheld 26. August 2024. in Sofia
National security or religious discrimination? The role of the European Solidarity Party in putting pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
General condition
During the war in Ukraine, issues related to national security and internal consolidation were significantly intensified. The religious aspect has taken a special place in this discussion, as the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UPC), which has historical ties to the Russian Orthodox Church (RPC), is perceived by some politicians and public figures as a possible threat.
In this report, I will introduce you to discriminatory rhetoric and the promotion of legislative initiatives directed against the UPC, in the context of European democratic values. I will pay special attention to the position of the European Solidarity Party and its leader – former, Fifth President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, once a parishioner of our church, and I will introduce you to his role in the promotion of the bill no. 8371. banning our church.
- Historical and political context
Historically, in modern times, relations between the Ukrainian state and church structures have been complex and contradictory.
In 2018. for a year, in the conditions of political and social change, Petar Poroshenko played a key role in the creation of the "Orthodox Church of Ukraine" (PCU), was the main initiator of obtaining the Tomos on autocephaly for the newly created Association from the patriarch of Constantinople and his Synod, which ultimately did not lead to overcoming the church schism in Ukraine, but it significantly worsened the existing division, and the PCU never gained Pan-Orthodox recognition as a structure with dubious canonical status. Nevertheless, certain political forces see this as an attempt to weaken the supposedly existing "ideological influence" of the Russian Orthodox Church and strengthen, as they like to say, the "spiritual independence" of Ukraine, which, in turn, is often accompanied by harsh statements at the expense of the UPC.
The imposition of a state of emergency in Ukraine intensified the negative rhetoric of the Poroshenko-controlled media, which increased public dissatisfaction with the UPC, which they continue to accuse of covertly supporting the Russian military. Political rhetoric against the UPC has intensified, and pressures from the state and individual political circles and public activists have increased significantly.
In particular, members of the European Solidarity Party, including its leader, use aggressive rhetoric against the UPC, calling the canonical Church a "pseudo-church structure of the FSB", "evil spirits"[1]the"mafia"[2] . There are increasingly frequent calls for "cleansing" Ukrainian society of "Kremlin agents in robes", i.e. clergy and parishioners of the UPC.
Such statements contribute to strengthening the hostile attitude towards the canonical Church, creating an atmosphere of ostracism. This created the ground for violence and discrimination, which has already manifested itself in many incidents – the beating of Bishop Nikita Ivano-Frankivsk and the clergy of a number of dioceses, the severe stabbing of the priest of the Diocese of Vinica Antonije Kovtanjuk, the robberies of churches, the increasing tendency of political pressure on the religious community, which, despite its autonomy, remains in difficult relations with the Ukrainian state.
- Lobbying for Bill No. 8371
Law No. 8371 imposes significant restrictions on religious organizations associated with centers of influence in countries recognized by Ukraine as aggressors, primarily with Russia. This applies in particular to registration, property rights and the possibility of performing religious rites. The European Solidarity Party actively supports this bill, seeing it as a means to finally liberate itself from "Russian influence". Petar Poroshenko has repeatedly spoken about the need to put Bill No. 8371 to the vote, which aims to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church because of its ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. He has pressured Parliament to speed up consideration of the bill and criticised the delay in its passage[3].
Irina Gerashchenko, another prominent member of the party, actively advocates the adoption of the law, mobilizing the support of public organizations and insisting on the transparency of parliamentarians ' positions on the issue. She called for public disclosure of the names of those MPs who oppose the bill[4].
In July 2024. European solidarity MEPs blocked the Supreme Rada Hall, demanding urgent consideration of the law banning the UPC. They also hung posters accusing the Church of working for Russian intelligence services.
- Violation of European democratic values
The bill, in essence, involves depriving the UPC of the opportunity to exist in the legal field of Ukraine, which is a violation of European basic democratic values and contradicts Ukraine's obligations towards the European Union and the Council of Europe.
Ah. Freedom of religion:
One of the key principles protected by the European Union is freedom of religion, which includes the right to freely profess one's religion without fear of persecution, discrimination or government interference.
Violation: Active support for initiatives to ban the UPC is perceived as a threat to religious freedom. The actions and rhetoric of the "European Solidarity" Party are aimed at marginalizing and persecuting the UPC for its alleged association with Russian state bodies, thus violating the fundamental right to freedom of religion and conscience, guaranteed both by the Constitution of Ukraine and international norms.
B. The principle of non-discrimination, which includes religious beliefs, is an important aspect of human rights in the EU.
ViolationPublic accusations and aggressive statements against the UPC, such as allegations of its connection to Russian intelligence services or calls for its activities to be banned, contribute to discrimination and social isolation of the faithful of the canonical Church. Such actions may exacerbate inter-religious discord and contradict the European principle of tolerance.
C. Fomenting inter-religious discord:
European standards condemn all forms of hatred, including interfaith hatred, and call for respect for diversity and harmonious coexistence of different religious communities.
Violation: Rhetoric aimed at" demonizing " the UPC leads to religious conflicts and incites hatred. In wartime conditions such statements are especially dangerous, as they can exacerbate divisions in society, creating a hostile environment for the believers of the UPC.
D. Principle of rule of law:
The most important principle of European democracy is the rule of law, which implies respect for the rights of all citizens, including the right to a fair trial and protection from arbitrary action by the authorities.
ViolationSupport for Bill No. 8371, which aims to limit the activities of the UPC, raises reasonable concerns regarding respect for the rule of law.
This bill has provoked a significant and turbulent debate in the context of relations between the state and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Also, this document was criticized not only by the main scientific and professional Department of the Supreme Rada of Ukraine, but also by international organizations, including Amnesty International, which pointed to possible violations of human rights. Some international and Ukrainian experts have also noted that such measures could lead to an escalation of the conflict within the country.
If the law is used to exert political pressure on a religious organization without sufficient evidence of its participation in anti-state activities, it should be considered a violation of human rights.
Systematic pressure on the UPC, its hierarchs and faithful, supported at a high political level, can lead to a deterioration of the image of Ukraine in the international arena and provoke condemnation from European states and institutions.
As part of the state of emergency, dozens of incidents related to discrimination against believers of the UPC were recorded, including the seizure of church property and attacks on clergy. These cases show that hate speech and ostracism already have real consequences.
Petar Poroshenko continues to actively promote the idea of the need to tighten measures against the UPC, linking this to national security goals. However, his critics claim that in this way he tries to maintain political influence by playing on the patriotic feelings of society.
In the context of the criminal cases brought against Poroshenko, some analysts have suggested that his harsh rhetoric against the UPC could be an attempt to divert attention from his own legal problems and mobilize the electorate around a nationalist agenda.
Conclusion
The religious-political situation in Ukraine during the state of emergency proved extremely complex and tense. In the context of the conflict with Russia, issues of religious identity have become particularly acute in Ukraine. The religious question is now maximally politicized. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has become a target of ostracism and discrimination by political elites, including leaders of the European Solidarity party.
This party and its leader have a leading role in shaping public opinion, in which the UPC is perceived as an agent of Russian influence and a threat to national security. This rhetoric, which often turns into aggressive statements, creates a negative attitude in society towards the UPC and its believers, which contributes to the fomenting of inter-religious hatred and creates real risks to the rights and freedoms of the citizens of Ukraine.
Lobbying for Bill no. 8371, which supports European solidarity, demonstrates the willingness of political forces to use legislative instruments to limit the rights of their own citizens, which is contrary to the principles of European democracy. The adoption of this law could seriously undermine the credibility of the Ukrainian authorities in the international arena, especially among the countries of the European Union, for which freedom of religion is an integral part of democratic values.
Aggressive rhetoric and political pressure on the UPC, noted in the statements of Petro Poroshenko and his supporters, increase the risk of internal destabilization and can lead to heightened conflict not only on religious, but also on social grounds.
Thus, the current situation requires a revision of political approaches to religious issues and a strengthening of guarantees of freedom of religion in Ukraine. It is important that the rhetoric of hatred and discrimination in relation to the UPC does not become an instrument of political struggle, but that dialogue and mutual understanding come to the fore, which corresponds to democratic and European values, which, as stated by the Ukrainian authorities, Ukraine seeks to protect and develop.
Source: Center for Geostrategic Studies
27. August 2024.
Instructions:
[1] https://www.facebook.com/petroporoshenko/posts/pfbid0GNDcDWFnXa886gfBdx11wg6dLRzyRUDaptMydE1k23AcHi6zYvvbh5rPuhRD8xJRl
[2] https://nv.ua/ukraine/politics/upc-mp-mafiya-knyazhickiy-o-zaprete-russkoy-cerkvi-verhovnoy-radoy-novosti-ukrainy-50358796.html
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJM8qwS-5ME
[4] https://www.facebook.com/iryna.gerashchenko/posts/pfbid024Qhvxm8Vu32UBgiJm5mnbYNWQitE3aUCpKs2UVqHp1FzqzDLPvrn2DKEknZTVJovl
