On Freedom of Conscience in Ukraine. Report on the UOC Church Seizure in Kiev region

On August 23, St. Vladimir’s Church located in the village of Malye Dmitrovichi (Mali Dmytrovychy – Ukr.), Obukhov district, Kiev region, was seized by unknown persons, who identified themselves as representatives of Obukhov self-defense. The priests of the Kiev Patriarchate were also involved in the seizure. They forced the rector and parishioners to interrupt service and leave the church. Then, the door locks were changed and the church was closed.

The next day, a group of the UOJ journalists went to the vil. Malye Dmitrovichi to clarify the situation. On the Independence Day of Ukraine a few dozen people - supporters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the UOC-KP, as well as representatives of the clergy of both churches, - gathered in the courtyard near the church.

According to the local priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, hieromonk Boniface (Litvinenko), the minutes of the rural community meeting go that people voted for the opening of the UOC-KP church, but not for the conversion. In their turn, representatives of the Kiev Patriarchate insist that the religious community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, almost at full strength went under the patronage of the Kiev Patriarchate. However, they refused to provide the originals of the protocols on the spot. It is obvious that the vote took place just in a village, not in a religious community. This fact is a violation of the law on freedom of conscience and entails criminal responsibility (Art. 180 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine "Obstruction of Religious Rites").

The community of the UOC was founded in Malye Dmitrovichi in 2006. Putting The whole village put effort in repairing the church. Father Boniface said that most of the funds were raised by the parishioners of the UOC and this fact was documented. Moreover, all the church ware belongs to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Some things were donated by the late Metropolitan Vladimir; the others were bought by local priests.

The conflict arose last year when a local activist of the KP Nadezhda Kaplunenko began an active propaganda in favour of the Kiev Patriarchate. Even then the rector of the local UOC church was approached with demands to get out of the village in good time. But to leave his flock, though small in number, he could not.

Father Boniface describes the seizure in such a way: "They arranged the vote and allegedly collected 142 signatures. However, a hundred votes were not validated by either passport data or information on registration. Actually, only 42 villagers signed up. There are 110 locals altogether registered as village residents, and only 60 of them have the right to vote (are officially members of the rural community). Yesterday they kicked me out of the church and changed the locks."

The parishioners of the UOC of Malye Dmitrovichi remark that the escalation of the conflict began a few weeks before the seizure. Activists of the KP demanded that the UOC congregation stop remembering in prayer the name of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill. The priest met the demands, although this is a violation of church canons. However, it didn’t prevent from the church seizure. Moreover, according to the locals, raiders were people who are not Christians and who do not even try to hide that fact.

We did not ask people in camouflage uniforms, who were present in M. Dmitrovichi on August 24, about their religious affiliation. But we took a closer look at the chevrons on the uniforms. Apart from Obukhov "self-defense", there were representatives of the Right Sector and members of the notorious brigade “Aidar”. The people in camouflage were actively protected by a deputy of the district council Yuri Garneda.

He is quite likely to run for the local authorities at the upcoming autumn elections. The seizure of churches and its transfer to the "right" Church is gaining popularity all over Ukraine. This low-cost but highly effective technology enables to almost instantly make the image of a patriot.

It’s the duty of law enforcement bodies in the first line, but not journalists, to look into the reasons for the capture of the church, though. However, the officers of the local district department are in no hurry to respond to complaints of the UOC priest to stop the offense. They prefer to observe, intervening only when there is a threat of physical violence.

Meanwhile the church is sealed, and the representatives of the two churches are trying to negotiate with each other. Father Boniface hopes that good will prevails over emotion, the situation will be resolved peacefully, and clashes in the village will come to an end. Otherwise, the case should be heard in court, and unspoken complaints will sow discord between villagers for long. 

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