Religious organizations to be given 9 months to "break ties with ROC"

Verkhovna Rada members. Photo: golos.com.ua

In an interview with the "We-Ukraine" TV channel on August 17, VRU Speajer Ruslan Stefanchuk said that in the near future the Verkhovna Rada will consider Bill № 8371 on the de facto ban of the UOC and shared the timeline for when the law is expected to come into force.

Religious organizations will have a specified period during which they can take actions to demonstrate that they are no longer affiliated with or connected to the Russian Orthodox Church.

"We calculated that it will take about a month for the law to come into effect, 3 months for the Cabinet of Ministers to develop the necessary regulatory framework, and after that, a series of implementations. So, within 9 months, organizations affected by the law could be recognized by the court as having ceased their activities," Stefanchuk said.

As reported by the UOJ, the Parliament Speaker mentioned that "an appropriate examination will be conducted in those religious organisations in Ukraine suspected of any affiliation or cooperation with the Russian Orthodox Church."

Earlier, the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) supported President Zelensky's legislative initiative against the UOC.

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