In the procedure of control the Committee on Culture and Spirituality considered the issue on pressure of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine on the Ukrainian Greek Catholic church

Information Department of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariat
Published on 16 January 2014, at 13:55

It was mentioned at the Committee meeting that “the reason for consideration of this issue is the letter (№ 1/3/13-14 from 03.01.2014), brought to light in mass media, signed by the First deputy Minister of Culture T.H.Kokhan, addressed to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic church in which, for the first time during the years of independence, a threat to cease legal activities of one of the biggest religious organizations in Ukraine on the part of the executive authorities was announced. This threat is directly connected with participation of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic church clergymen in protest actions of citizens on the Independence Square in Kyiv.”

The Committee adopted the decisions:

“To claim that intervention of state into the life of religious organizations, intimidation and pressure on the part of executive authorities on the representatives of the Church are unacceptable and contradict articles 22, 24, 34, 35 of the Constitution of Ukraine, and articles 3, 4, 5, 21 of the Law of Ukraine “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations.”

To express distrust to Minister of Culture of Ukraine L.Novokhatko, First Deputy Minister of Culture T.H.Kokhan and the Chairman of the Department for Religions and Nationalities of the Ministry of Culture M.I.Moshkola.

To demand from the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine to immediately withdraw the letter № 1/3/13-14 from 03.01.2014 and stop politically motivated manipulation of the Ukrainian laws’ norms.

To address the Security Service of Ukraine with a demand to stop political persecution of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic church and its followers.

To address the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine with a demand to provide copies of materials and applications of the Security Service of Ukraine, executive authorities and the public on the basis of which the abovementioned letter was prepared (№ 1/3/13-14 from 03.01.2014).

To address the world’s religious community, international human rights organizations and diplomatic missions of foreign states in connection with persecution of the Greek Catholic church in Ukraine.”