Public Council of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine condemned the violations againist believers in the occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas

Public Council for Cooperation with Religious Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine condemned the violation of the rights of believers in the occupied territories of Ukraine at the Donbass and Crimea.

This was discussed during the meeting of December 22, 2016 in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, reports the Institute of Religious Freedom.

The meeting drew attention to the violation of the rights of believers in temporarily occupied Crimea and in some territories of Donetsk and Lugansk regions. In particular, the prohibition by the occupation authorities to worship in the Church of Evangelical Christians "Voice of Hope" in Bakhchisarai, and in house of worship of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Horlivka Donetsk region.

About these and other violations of the rights of believers Institute for Religious Freedom reported during the OSCE international conference, which took place on 14 December in Vienna.

"The question of restoration of rights of believers in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine will constantly be raised at the international level (OSCE, UN, Council of Europe) until all churches and prayer houses in the Donbas and Crimea will not be returned to believers and relevant religious communities" - IRS chairman Alexander Zayets stressed during a meeting of the Public Council.

The members of the Public Council discussed the liberation of hostages, promoting chaplaincy as a form of cooperation between the State and the Church to support the Ukrainian soldiers who defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine from Russian aggression. Public Council at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs unanimously voted in support of the decision to pass the Law of Ukraine "On the military chaplaincy as soon as possible".