Former Ukrainian president urges MPs to support ban of Russian religous organizations

Source: European Solidarity party, Yaroslav Zheleznyak

Tensions flared up in Ukraine’s parliament on Tuesday after the opposition leader and former president Petro Poroshenko called on lawmakers to support Bill 8371, which seeks to ban  Russian-affiliated religious organizations.

In his speech to the MPs, Poroshenko spoke about the urgency of the bill. He also quoted patriarch Kiril  of Russian Orthodox Church who openly endorses Russian troops’ acts in Ukraine.

“I must apologize for quoting in Russian, but this is a direct quote from the so-called patriarch, FSB general Gundyayev, who calls for the killing of Ukrainians,” Poroshenko said. The quote in question is: “We must increase support for Russian servicemen on the front lines, and every parish of the Russian Orthodox Church should aid those on the line of fire.”

The Ukranian parliament must act decisively, said Poroshenko, dismissing the claims that Ukraine’s western allies are opposed to the measure.  He reminded that the Ukrainian leaders had received a greeting from Donald Trump when Ukraine’s Orthodox Church was granted autonomy by Patriarch of Constantiople,

“The only place where the term ‘ban’ appears in the bill is regarding the Russian Orthodox Church. Look at the last PCU church destroyed by Russia in Yevpatoria. Look at the resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which officially recognizes the Russian Orthodox Church as a tool of Russian influence and propaganda, having nothing to do with freedom of religion. The Ukrainian branch must choose: either with God and Ukraine or with Satan and Russia. The choice is theirs. The choice is yours,” Poroshenko urged lawmakers.

At 13:10, the Rada announced a break following a heated debate.

“That’s it… a notice has been received from two factions asking a regular 30-minute break. It has to do with the consideration of the bill banning the Moscow Church. It seems that’s all for today,”  wrote MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak on Telegram.

The delay got an emotional response from the group of lawmakers who blocked the podiuming, according to another MP Oleskiy Honcharenko.