The disguised interests of Russian-backed entities are responsible for the dissemination in the media of fake information about possible persecution of the Romanian Orthodox community of Ukraine as a result of autocephaly being granted to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

This was stated by the Embassy of Ukraine in Romania, according to Ukrinform.

“In the foreign press, including in Romanian press, fake materials are distributed with provocative allegations about the possible threat that the process of obtaining and practical implementation of the autocephaly of the UOC will involve seizure by Ukrainian nationalists of the Orthodox church buildings of the Romanian parishes that are currently in the jurisdiction of the UOC-Moscow Patriarchate,” as well as “the prohibition to worship in the Romanian language in the Romanian churches of Ukraine" ... We point to the artificial nature of these provocative ideas, as well as the fact that their dissemination, including among the Romanian community in Ukraine, is due to the disguised interests of pro-Russian circles aiming at destabilizing the situation in Ukraine and its relations with its neighbors,” said the Embassy.

The diplomatic mission said that, unfortunately, the statements with similar implications are being voiced recently by both the leaders of the Romanian community of Ukraine and Romanian politicians who, according to Ukrainian diplomats, are not aware of the highly provocative nature of such irresponsible statements and appeals, as well as their possible negative consequences for the region.

The Embassy recalled that President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, in his statement about the decision of the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to continue the process of granting autocephaly to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, reiterated the full readiness of the Ukrainian state to protect the rights and interests of all religious communities in the country, and to prevent any provocations and extremist manifestations on our territory.