Putin ready to defend “canonical Orthodox” in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia reserves the right to respond in the event of a threat of violations of the right to freedom of religion in neighboring countries.

He said this at the event dedicated to the decade of enthronement of the Head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill, according to Ukrayinska Pravda.

So, commenting on the rise of the autocephalous Church in Ukraine, Putin once again complained about the alleged interference of Ukrainian authorities in church affairs and added that Russia considered such actions “absolutely inadmissible”.

“We have respected and will respect the independence of church life, especially in the neighboring sovereign country,” he said.

“Nevertheless, we reserve the right to respond and do everything to protect human rights, including freedom of religion,” Putin emphasized.

He also thanked Kirill for the ‘spiritual pastoral care’ of the Russian army and said it allegedly helps officers and soldiers to be convinced of their “moral rectitude.”

Putin also noted the efforts of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in "building trust" between the countries and peoples and expressed the hope that "the Russian Orthodox Church will continue to possess an effective peacekeeping power.”