Over 80% of Ukrainian citizens support the ban on the UOC-MP, - MP Knyazhitsky

Mykola Knyazhitsky, a Member of Parliament and Chair of the Subcommittee on Cultural Policy in the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Humanitarian and Information Policy, expressed this viewpoint in a comment to Ukrinform in Ivano-Frankivsk, responding to questions about why the parliament has not yet voted to ban the Russian Church.

"I am absolutely convinced that we must ban the activities of the Russian Church (UOC-MP) in Ukraine. Over 80% of Ukrainian citizens want to ban the Russian Church, and we must do everything to ensure that this is voted on in the Verkhovna Rada. There are many politicians who do not realize the threat to national security posed by the Russian Church. We need these people who are reluctant to vote to understand that they are obligated to do so and fulfill the will of the people," Knyazhitsky noted.

He emphasized that this concerns the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate since, in effect, it is a part of the Russian Church. "Since the Moscow Patriarchate is, in fact, a part of the Russian Church, they have a choice. If they sever all ties, they can function normally. But if they do not sever these ties, then, obviously, their activities as an affiliate of the ROC should be banned," Knyazhitsky concluded.

It's worth mentioning that in Ivano-Frankivsk, within the framework of the Via Carpatia forum, there will be a presentation of the documentary film "A Church without Christ" and a discussion on "The Significance of the Church in the Decolonization of Ukraine."

Earlier, deputies of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Council appealed to the country's leadership with a demand to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in the country, initiate an investigation into its activities, and punish those involved in the collaboration.

From October 13 to 15, Ivano-Frankivsk is hosting the International Via Carpatia Forum, which includes numerous events, such as university lectures, public discussions, meetings with military writers, the Stanislav Vincent Prize award ceremony, the screening of the play "Nation," art exhibitions, and a children's book program.