16 January 2014
MEDIA RELEASE
Ukrainian World Congress called upon the international community to condemn threats made by Ukraine’s governing authorities to suppress religious freedom
On 16 January 2014 Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij sent a letter to the international community with an appeal to condemn the threats being made by Ukraine’s governing authorities to suppress religious freedom in Ukraine, which are clear violations of the country’s Constitution and international obligations.
The UWC drew attention to a letter of 3 January 2014 from First Deputy Minister of Culture Tymofii Kokhan warning the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) of possible legal action to ban the activities of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church if its clergy do not cease religious services on Kyiv’s EuroMaidan.
In addition, in its appeal to the international community, the UWC declared its support for the following statement by Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk):
We are convinced that praying for peace with those who peacefully express their aspiration to live in a country governed by the rule of law – this is an appropriate place for prayer. No separate government authorization is required for this.
Also on 16 January 2014 the UWC President sent a letter to President Viktor Yanukovych calling upon him to immediately and unequivocally recall the letter issued by the Deputy Minister of Culture.
“The Ukrainian World Congress calls upon the international community to condemn the threats of Ukraine’s governing authorities to suppress religious freedom in Ukraine,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij. “We also call upon Ukraine’s President and governing authorities to retract all threats against the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.”
