UOC-KP archbishop reports in Brussels about violations of Ukrainian communities’ rights in Russian-occupied Crimea and Donbas

On March 6-9, 2017, with the blessing of Patriarch Filaret, Archbishop Yevstratii of Chernihiv, Kyiv Patriarchate representative to the European institutions, made another working visit to Brussels.

On March 6, the hierarch arrived in the Belgian capital.

On March 7-8, he had a series of his meetings with the European Commission, the European Parliament, as well as non-governmental organizations.

In particular, the hierarch visited the European Bureau of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, which is a longstanding partner of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and religious organizations in various educational, social and information projects.

The hierarch met in European Parliament with a number of parliamentarians representing different parties and parliamentary factions (the European People's Party, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, the Greens). Among others, he met with Lithuanian MP Petras Auštrevičius, who leads the inter-factional group “Friends of Ukraine.”

Archbishop Yevstratii also met with the advisors of several European Parliament officials.

During the meetings they discussed the current inter-confessional and social situation in Ukraine, the violation of religious freedom and the rights of the Ukrainian community in the areas of Crimea and Donbas temporarily occupied by Russia, the prospects for cooperation with European institutions both for the Kyiv Patriarchate and the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, other issues of mutual interest.

In addition, the archbishop met with the representative of Ukraine to the EU, Mykola Tochickyy and the rector of the parish of Brussels (UGCC), Fr. Oleg Zymak.

On March 9, the hierarch returned home. It was reported by the press-center of the Kyiv Patriarchate.