The bill banning the Moscow Patriarchate has been approved by the committee for consideration by the Verkhovna Rada

On March 5, the Committee on Humanitarian Policy recommended the government bill (8371) for the second reading.

Member of the relevant committee, MP Mykola Knyazhytsky (European Solidarity), emphasizes that attempts to disrupt the consideration of the bill were made by several MPs who resorted to spamming amendments:

“The committee recommended that parliament consider the government bill on banning the activities of the Russian church in Ukraine for the second reading. It came out as a compromise for ideological MPs, but definitely not a compromise regarding the activities of the FSB in cassocks. Amendments developed by the working group were taken into account. A number of provisions from my bill (8221), which I prepared together with colleagues, were also considered. As a result, a quite effective project emerged. If parliament supports it, the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience will have all the tools to ensure that religious organizations have no ties with the aggressor state.”

MP Oleksandr Alixeychuk (“Sluga Narodu” (Servant of the People)), who, together with Yuliia Klymenko (“Holos” (Voice)), collected signatures to have the government bill brought to the floor for the first reading in the fall, emphasizes that this will be a decisive vote:

What awaits us in the session hall?

Oleksandr Alixeychuk

Member of Parliament, "Sluga narodu"

Today the committee made a very important and far-reaching decision. It's highly symbolic that in the city of Trostianets, which was occupied by Russian forces, the central temple of the city has now come under the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church after the residents voted. Similarly, every temple, church, and chapel that prays in unity with the Russian hostile church, which blesses the occupation of Ukraine, must come under the umbrella of the Ukrainian Church. That church, recognized by the whole world and the mother church of Constantinople. Ahead is a crucial vote in parliament that will show who truly stands for the unity of the Ukrainian nation in the fight against the Muscovites, and who doesn't

MP Klymenko emphasizes that the issue should be considered in a few weeks:

“We urgently need to bring it to the floor for a vote, as we have already delayed this process.”

Currently, the head of the “Sluga Narodu” faction, David Arakhamia, has not responded to the question of when the government bill may be on the agenda of the Verkhovna Rada.