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Petar Volgin, a Bulgarian member of the European Parliament from the Europe of Sovereign Nations group, has sent a written request to the European Commission questioning it position on the law adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine persecuting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).
On 20 August 2024 Ukraine’s parliament has passed a law against various religious organizations, including the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the largest Christian Church in the war-torn country. The unelected Zelensky regime justifies this law by alleging ties between the UOC and Russia and claims it is a danger to national security, however, there is no evidence to substantiate these allegations. The move is clearly designed to subordinate religion to state control.
As a result, serious concerns have arisen that the new Ukrainian law violates fundamental human rights by jeopardizing religious freedoms, and creating further deepen public division within the country. The law is in direct violation of article 10 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which guarantees the right of people to profess their religion and beliefs.
Given the opening of negotiations with Ukraine concerning its accession into the EU and the European Commission’s hypocritical stance on this issue, Petar Volgin, who was elected to the European Parliament on the Vazrazhdane list, sent a letter to the European Commission with the following questions:
1. Does the Commission plan to raise these concerns about human rights violations as a condition in the negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU?
2. Will the Commission ensure that Ukraine’s obligations to protect religious freedom, as set out in EU and international law, are fully respected during this process?
3. What measures will the Commission take to monitor the situation and ensure that the restrictions imposed on religious organizations in Ukraine are not discriminatory, but will be in line with European values?
In Bulgaria, Vazrazhdane has already issued a position condemning the Ukrainian law and in support of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.