PACE recognizes Russian church as Kremlin propaganda tool

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) recognized the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) as an instrument of Kremlin propaganda, announced a member of the Ukrainian delegation to the PACE, Ukrainian MP Yevheniia Kravchuk.

“[The Assembly called upon] to recognize the ROC as an instrument of Russian influence and propaganda, which has nothing to do with freedom of religion and expression of views, and also to regard Patriarch Kirill and the Russian Orthodox hierarchy as a continuation of the neo-imperial ideology of the ‘Russkyi Mir,” the MP wrote.

The PACE resolution also called for the recognition of Russian President Putin as illegitimate. “The Assembly acknowledges that Putin’s regime espouses the neo-imperial ideology of the ‘Russkyi Mir,’ which the Kremlin has turned into a tool for fueling war. The hierarchy of the Moscow Patriarchate of the ROC advocates for this ideology, declaring war against Ukraine and the ‘satanic’ West as a ‘holy war of all Russians,'” Kravchuk wrote.

The Assembly condemns such rhetoric and emphasizes that incitement to commit crimes of aggression, genocide, and war crimes is a crime in itself. “The Assembly calls on all member states of the Council of Europe and the EU to regard Patriarch Kirill and the Russian Orthodox hierarchy as an ideological continuation of Putin’s regime,” added the MP.

Kravchuk also reported that the Estonian representative Erik-Niels Kross submitted a relevant proposal for consideration. “In addition, it was possible to adopt an amendment from the Ukrainian delegation calling on the member states of the Council of Europe and the EU to recognize the ROC as an instrument of Russian influence and propaganda, which has nothing to do with freedom of religion and expression of views, guaranteed by international law!” Kravchuk added.

In March, Russian People’s Council, an organization under the auspices of the Russian Orthodox Church, declared full-scale invasion of Ukraine a “holy war”. The so-called “decree” was approved under the leadership of Moscow Patriarch Kirill.