UOC Files Suit Against Government Over ‘Foreign Affiliation’ Inspections
Kyiv District Court. Photo: Investigator
KYIV — The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) has filed an administrative lawsuit against the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, seeking to overturn a recent government resolution that mandates inspections of religious organizations for ties to “foreign religious structures.” The UOC argues that the resolution, adopted on May 9, 2025, is unlawful and should be repealed.
The legal action, revealed on June 24, 2025, targets Cabinet Resolution No. 543, which outlines procedures for determining whether a religious organization is affiliated with a foreign group banned in Ukraine. The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience is listed as a third party in the case, which will be heard by Judge Aliona Kushnova of the Kyiv District Administrative Court.
Judge Kushnova previously upheld Ukraine’s “renaming law,” which compels the UOC to rebrand itself as linked to the Russian Orthodox Church.
The UOC maintains that the resolution is discriminatory and infringes on religious freedom.
Meanwhile, Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, advisor to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, also criticized similar legislation in Estonia, stating that state interference in the Church’s internal structure is unacceptable.
Read also
King of Jordan Donates Land Near the Site of Christ's Baptism to Serbian Church
King Abdullah II of Jordan has offered to gift the Serbian Orthodox Church land near Jesus’s baptism site, a gesture Patriarch Porfirije says will engrave the king’s name in gold in Serbian Church history.
1,000 Christian Zionist Pastors Visit Israel on Trip Funded by the Israeli Foreign Ministry
The summit comes as Israel expands outreach to U.S. churches, including a multimillion-dollar digital campaign recently disclosed in a federal filing.
Lexington ROCOR Parish Seeks Support to Purchase and Restore New Church Building
Mission parish seeks donations to acquire a historic Winchester church as a permanent home for Orthodox worship.
Hellenic College Holy Cross Alumnus Returns to Present Memoir of Alaskan Pilgrimage
Alumnus Anthony Linderman returned to HCHC to share his memoir recounting a spiritually transformative year on Alaska’s Spruce Island.
Antiochian Archdiocese to Host 2026 Winter Sacred Music Institute for Church Musicians in Phoenix
The Winter Sacred Music Institute in Phoenix will gather church musicians for education, worship, and fellowship focused on Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday hymns.
Finnish Orthodox Leader in Ongoing Talks with Security Agency Over Perceived Russian Threats
Finnish Abp. Elia says the Ukraine war has split his Church and prompted ongoing cooperation with national security services to guard against suspected Russian influence.