“The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a new procedure for reviewing religious organizations for the spread of the ideology of the Russian measure. The relevant resolution No. 541 came into force on May 9, 2025. Now public authorities, citizens or organizations can initiate a check if there are suspicions of promoting hostile ideology through the church or its representatives. Particular attention will be paid to the activities of the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate, which has repeatedly been suspected”, – WRITE ON: ua.news
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a new procedure for reviewing religious organizations for the spread of the ideology of the Russian measure.
The relevant resolution No. 541 came into force on May 9, 2025.
Now public authorities, citizens or organizations can initiate a check if there are suspicions of promoting hostile ideology through the church or its representatives.
Particular attention will be paid to the activities of the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate, which has repeatedly been suspected of cooperation with the Russian Federation and the spread of the Kremlin narratives.
In accordance with the new rules, the State Service of Ukraine in Ethno -Policy and Freedom of Conscience (PEC) will be carried out. Specialists of other state bodies and scientific institutions may involve a special group.
They will analyze information from open sources, public registers, media, as well as the results of religious examinations.
If the signs of propaganda are revealed, the Dex issues an order for the creation of the group to consider the issue, and in the case of confirmation of the facts – approves the corresponding conclusion, which is published on the official website and sent to a religious organization.
The signs of propaganda of the “Russian measure” include: substantiation of the need to restore the imperial space under the auspices of Russia, justify the aggression of the Russian Federation, denial Ukrainian statehood, dissemination of ideas about “three -year -old Russian people”, justify crimes of the Russian military in the territory of Ukraine, as well as calls for the harvesting of “Russian lands”.
Attempts to deny the right of Ukrainian churches to autocephaly and justify the suppression of national religious traditions are also prohibited.
In the case of repeated facts of propaganda, the Dex concludes, which can be the basis for further legal actions, until the prohibition of the activity of the relevant religious organization through the court.
If no violations are found – the consideration is stopped. It should be noted that the vast majority of Ukrainians support the state’s interference in the activities of churches related to the Moscow Patriarchate, considering it a matter of national security.
We will remind, a new survey showed that Ukrainians would like to unite the church, headed by the head of the PCU Metropolitan Epiphany. There are currently two large Orthodox churches in the country.
We have already reported that since the beginning of the full -scale war of Russia against Ukraine there is a significant decrease in the number of faithful of the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC -MP). If in 2021 their share was 13%, then in 2024 it decreased to 5.5%.
