News

Patriarch Kirill in meeting with Mijatovic asks Council of Europe to control observance of believers' rights in Ukraine

Strasbourg, May 27, Interfax - Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia said he hopes the state policies on believers will change in Ukraine now that it has a new president and called on Council of Europe structures to take measures to protect them.

"I hope the change of the president in Ukraine will be followed by changes in the state policies in the sphere of human rights," the patriarch said in a meeting with Dunja Mijatovic, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights.

The patriarch also called on the Council of Europe "to exercise control over the observance of people's right to choose their religion in Ukraine."

The patriarch also told Mijatovic the previous administration of Ukraine had adopted two laws that discriminate against believers.

"One of them prohibited the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from calling itself that. Despite the fact that the church was composed fully of Ukrainians they tried to present it as the Church of the Russian Federation. The second law encouraged parishes to change their jurisdiction. As a result, the flock protested and was then attacked physically. Such totally illegal practices existed before the election. We hope that this abuse will stop with the arrival of the new president," the patriarch said.

The flock started to go to court more often and courts "honestly did their work, despite the heavy political pressure," he said.

"Everything that is related to massive violations of religious rights that came from the Ukrainian executive administration was rejected by people. The outcome of the presidential election showed that people don't welcome the policies that were cultivated by the previous administration," Patriarch Kirill said.

Mijatovic, in turn, said she is informed about what is happening in Ukraine.

Mijatovic said she plans to visit Ukraine soon and then she will visit Russia. She said she hopes to meet with the patriarch during the visit.

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia told Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland earlier on Monday he is concerned about human rights issues. "Human rights have concerned me lately as patriarch," he said while meeting with Jagland in Strasbourg on Monday.

"Rights and freedoms either unite people or divide them," the patriarch said, adding that the Council of Europe "promotes unification, with an emphasis on human rights." He said he "fully" understands the significance of the Council of Europe, which has formed "a foundation for possible integration of the European countries."

Print this page

Home

News

.	Customize latest news

• Presidents of Russia, Israel agree to continue departmental contacts regarding Jewish Agency for Israel 09 August 2022, 13:49
• Pope Francis holds lengthy meeting with head of Moscow Patriarchate's external relations dept 05 August 2022, 16:49
• 'Foreign ministers' of Russian Orthodox Church, Holy See meet in Vatican 04 August 2022, 16:44
• Zelensky tasks PM with considering legalization of same-sex marriages in Ukraine 03 August 2022, 14:38
• Pope to pay visit to Kazakhstan on Sept 13-15 01 August 2022, 13:55
• Kremlin refuses to comment on situation surrounding Jewish Agency for Israel 29 July 2022, 14:48
• Patriarch Kirill describes all Orthodox Ukrainians as children of Russian Orthodox Church 28 July 2022, 22:27
• Russian State Duma speaker says is certain bills banning propaganda of non-traditional values will be adopted 28 July 2022, 11:39
• Russian Church views Patriarch Kirill's ban on entry to Lithuania as abandoning European legal tradition 27 July 2022, 19:28
• Patriarch Kirill banned from entering Lithuania until 2027 27 July 2022, 18:15
• FJCR claims that they have not received notifications about the closure 27 July 2022, 14:25
• The return of Alexander Metochin to Russia outside the competence of the Jewish community – FJCR 27 July 2022, 14:18
• Israel ready for talks with Russia on Jewish Agency situation – PM 27 July 2022, 14:10
• Russian Church doubles the number of its clerics in Africa in seven months 27 July 2022, 11:33
• Situation surrounding Jewish Agency for Israel in Russia should not be politicized - Kremlin 26 July 2022, 17:27
• Russian court asked to declare Tajik Islamic Renaissance Party terrorist organization 25 July 2022, 18:13
• Person behind blast at Orthodox school in Russia's Serpukhov given 13-year term 25 July 2022, 15:47
• Blast rocks church in Syria at its inauguration ceremony 25 July 2022, 11:41
• Orthodox Church of Jerusalem urges West to stop attacks on Patriarch Kirill 22 July 2022, 21:40
• Intention to close down Jewish Agency for Israel in Russia linked not to 'brain drain', but to compliance with Russian laws - Kremlin 22 July 2022, 18:10
• The Federation of Jewish Communities concerned about plans to eliminate Sochnut in Russia 22 July 2022, 18:06
• Tajik president warns of danger of religious extremism ideology 21 July 2022, 17:28
• Russian Justice Ministry's Moscow branch seeks to shut down Jewish Agency for Israel 21 July 2022, 15:40
• Tretyakov Gallery dismisses as 'premature' talk about time of Rublev's Trinity return on permanent display 19 July 2022, 19:39
• Rublev's Trinity icon returned from Trinity Lavra to Tretyakov Gallery with no signs of deterioration 19 July 2022, 16:05
• Bill banning propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations submitted to State Duma 18 July 2022, 16:41
• Rublev's Trinity icon delivered to Trinity Lavra in special climate-controlled display case 18 July 2022, 10:07
• Rublev's Trinity icon delivered to Trinity Lavra for first time since 1917 Revolution 18 July 2022, 10:02
• Putin signs into law bill setting up state databank of extremist materials 14 July 2022, 16:52
• Kyrgyz special services claim to have prevented terrorist on Eid al-Adha in Bishkek 12 July 2022, 17:02

Other news