Political Analyst Mikhail Pogrebinsky
-left:0cm; margin-right:0cm”>UOC should expect problems in those regions where martial law was imposed, says Mikhail Pogrebinsky.
To protect their religious rights, where martial law was imposed, is simply impossible. This opinion was expressed by political scientist, Director of the Kiev center of political researches and conflictology Mikhail Pogrebinsky in comments to the SPM.
According to him, the decision on the introduction of the military situation will create problems for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
“Already there are questions in Pochayiv Lavra, there are issues of repression against not-yet believers, but an Orthodox clergy, which the SBU is trying to convince to submit to the “Church” that needs to be created under Tomos, – said the expert. And today were searches of Bishop Paul. So this process of repression against canonical Ukrainian Church began. To protect their rights to religious freedom in regions where martial law is all but impossible, because it would be a violation of the law, and is already legally possible to hold those people who will protest, try to protect the temples”.
Pogrebinsky also said that searches of Bishop Paul is not even necessary to impose martial law, because “there is a corresponding atmosphere, which allows security forces to use their resources to pressure someone using the fake charges”.
“How can you accuse Lord Paul is that he stirs up religious controversy? It’s just totally impossible. He protects his Church. And they use the law not on the military situation, and they use the normal Ukrainian laws. He is charged under such articles. They are under Ukrainian law. But it’s just a mess and the use of impunity in a situation that is created by the media,” – said the analyst.
As explained earlier, the experts, the introduction in Ukraine of martial law does not limit the right to freedom of religion but limits the right to religious street event or procession. Additionally, the scientists pointed out that the military situation can be used for confrontation with opponents of creation ETC.