Persecution of believers in Crimea is a reason to strengthen sanctions — the Ministry of Reintegration
As Ukrinform reports, this is stated in Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories.
«The decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation to refuse to reconsider the decision to evict the community of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (PCU) from the Cathedral of the Holy Apostles Princes Volodymyr and Olga in Simferopol temporarily occupied by Russia testifies to the oppression of religious rights of Ukrainian citizens.» in the statement.
The Ministry demands that the Crimean community of the PCU be restored to its rights.
«Russia has illegally appropriated and disposes of the property of the Crimean community of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which violates the norms of international law,» the press service of the ministry quoted Deputy Minister Igor Yaremenko as saying.
According to him, the expulsion of the Ukrainian church from the temporarily occupied Russian Federation of the Crimean peninsula is a manifestation of the weakness of the occupying state, and this will receive a proper response from Ukraine.
«Ukraine, in cooperation with international partners, will consider strengthening sanctions against those involved in the persecution of the PCU in the temporarily occupied Crimea,» Yaremenko added.
The ministry reminded that on the initiative of Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Oleksiy Reznikov, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to transfer the Cathedral of Saints Prince Volodymyr and Princess Olga from state ownership to the state of Crimea.
The decision, according to the ministry, was made «in connection with the systematic violation of the rights of religious communities and citizens living in the TOT of Crimea controlled by the Russian occupation authorities.»
As Ukrinform reported, the Ministry of Reintegration and Temporarily Occupied Territories has developed a draft resolution aimed at protecting the rights of believers in the Crimean Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (PCU).
On August 4, 2020, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation refused to review the decision of the occupation courts in Crimea to evict the community of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine from the Cathedral of the Holy Apostles Princes Volodymyr and Olga in Simferopol.
