Ukraine’s MFA calls on the world to strongly condemn Russia’s religious persecution in the occupied territories
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine issued an official statement condemning Russia’s systemic repression of religious communities, clergy and believers in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories. The statement refers to numerous human rights violations, the destruction of religious buildings and the forced subordination of communities to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian military has killed at least 67 religious figures, destroyed or damaged more than 640 religious buildings, including 596 Christian churches. In the occupied territories, the aggressor forcibly annexed more than 1,600 parishes and 23 monasteries to the Russian Orthodox Church, and liquidated all communities of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in Crimea.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported numerous cases of abductions, torture and fabricated cases against clergy. For example, UOC priest Konstantin Maksimov was sentenced to 14 years in prison for refusing to transfer his parish to the Russian Orthodox Church. The occupiers also kidnapped the priests of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Berdiansk and are holding more than 30 religious leaders in captivity.
It is also noted that 14 Jehovah’s Witnesses are under arrest in Crimea, despite the decision of the ECHR, which recognizes their persecution as illegal.
“The Russian Orthodox Church is implementing the Kremlin’s aggressive policy, becoming an instrument of destruction of Ukrainian identity,” the statement said.
The Ministry called on the international community to strongly condemn the criminal actions of the Russian Federation, increase sanctions pressure and help bring to justice those involved in repressions against religious communities.
“We call on the international community to strongly condemn the criminal actions of the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, to increase pressure on the aggressor state and to intensify work on bringing to justice those involved in human rights violations and repressions against Ukrainian religious communities.”
A separate appeal is addressed to religious organizations around the world:
“We appeal to all churches, religious organizations and believers around the world, regardless of their religion or denomination, with this appeal and ask them to pay attention to the barbaric Russian persecution of ordinary people who pose no threat to anyone and only want to believe in God and pray, to have the right to freedom of conscience and religion.
We ask everyone in the world who values fundamental human rights not to stand by in silence as crimes against faith and believers are committed, because silence only strengthens evil and gives it a sense of impunity. Instead, we urge you to join forces and counteract evil, both in word and deed.
