Russia uses religion as weapon, says Head of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
Photo: Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Vitalii Nosach/RBC-Ukraine)
Russia is trying to militarize religion and use it as a weapon in the war against Ukraine. In particular, the aggressors involve the Russian Orthodox Church for these purposes, the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, says in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
According to the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, over the past few months, he has explained to the leaders of European countries the importance of the law banning the Russian church in Ukraine. Eventually, some points became clear to Ukraine's partners. The first relates to the fact that Russia is militarizing religion and using it as a weapon against Ukraine.
"Perhaps, the Russian Orthodox Church was the first to fall under this, as it is a very obedient church to this regime. But I believe other religious centers are also under the same threat of control and manipulation. We saw how Muslim leaders from Russia traveled to Russian positions," His Beatitude Sviatoslav explained, adding that the aforementioned law was not about "prohibition" but about "protection" of Ukraine's religious environment.
Law on banning religious organizations linked to Russia
Commenting on the attitude toward the law, Sviatoslav said that all churches and religious organizations in Ukraine voted for certain principles that were considered in the document.
"It was about to build a partnership model of relations. Secondly, there will be no state church, and the state will treat all churches equally, giving them equal rights. Thirdly, non-interference of the state in church affairs and churches in state affairs. Fourthly, the responsibility of all religious communities for matters of national security, and the right of the state to intervene and act decisively here," the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church explained.
According to Sviatoslav, the law is not flawless, but today, it remains to be seen how it will be implemented.
In October 2023, the Ukrainian parliament passed the draft law №8371 in its first reading. The document envisages a ban on the activities of religious organizations linked to Russia. In the spring of 2024, in March, the parliamentary committee recommended supporting this draft law during the second reading.
Ultimately, on August 20, the draft law was finally adopted. A month later, on September 23, it came into force. An analysis of the changes brought by this law can be found in our article on the topic.
