European Court of Human Rights

Strasbourg

Legal action against the Ukrainian government for religious discrimination

For more than one year the believers of the Ukrainian orthodox Greek-Catholic Church (UOGCC) have been appealing for lawful registration of their Church before the state in accordance with the act “On Freedom of Worship and Religious Organizations”. During the rule of J. Tymoshenko the State Committee of Ukraine on Matters of Nationalities and Religions constantly rejected the requests not only for registration of the centre of the UOGCC but also of the individual communities of the believers. Christians of the UOGCC have separated from the apostatical structure of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church (UGCC).

The new Church UOGCC belongs to a small number of the Christian Churches in Ukraine which defend Christian and moral values against the gender-gay policy which leads to the genocide of Ukraine. Owing to injustice on the part of the State Committee the UOGCC members have been put outside the law, which creates tension and puts them into a position of lawbreakers when they attend divine services in the unregistered churches of the UOGCC. The believers do not have legal rights which are granted to other – and even non-Christian – religious communities in Ukraine. The UOGCC is not allowed to build churches freely, establish monasteries and cannot act as juridical person. Religious sisters from a contemplative monastery, some of whom have lived in Ukraine for more than ten years, met with great reluctance when applying even for a private visa this month. The Ukrainian Consulates in the Czech and Slovak Republics conditioned the issue of visas by an obligation to take off religious habits. It is a clear sign of discrimination. 

Since 13th August 2009 almost every day a group of believers stands with banners in front of the Regional Council in Lvov, demanding cessation of religious discrimination and lawful registration of the Christian communities of the UOGCC.

In accordance with the Ukrainian legislation in force, the UOGCC has to be registered because it has no illegal elements which would be an obstacle to the registration. In spite of all that, the law “On Freedom of Worship and Religious Organizations” is being continually violated.

This religious discrimination started during the rule of J. Tymoshenko. In March 2010 a new political stream assumed power and one could suppose that it would put an end to this injustice. Unfortunately, it did not happen. Only the highest state officials were deposed but the discriminatory system remained unchanged. Up to this time the posts at the State Committee on Matters of Nationalities and Religions and its departments at the Regional Councils in Lvov and Ternopol are occupied by the same officials who maintain this unlawful discriminatory line.

Who in fact is most to blame for this religious discrimination? Current President and his government or someone else?

Honourable judges, we demand that You instigate the Ukrainian government to impose just penalties on those persons who maintain and continue promoting injustice and religious discrimination in Ukraine. Principally, it concerns administration of the State Committee on Matters of Nationalities and Religions in Kiev and its departments at the Regional Councils in Lvov and Ternopol.

Dear representatives of the European Court of Human Rights, we were astonished to learn that under burden of so great responsibility You devoted attention to homosexuals from Moscow, to a homosexual from Poland who claimed a right to the property of his dead partner, to a lesbian from France whom the court of first and second instance denied adoption of a child... We believe that the scope of work of Your court is not only promotion of immoralities through lesbians and homosexuals but that You are also able to help the normal people who demand observance of the effective law. In the field of religion You stood up for the sect of Jehovah’s Witnesses and You fined the Russian government with 70.000 euros. We hope that You are able to stand up even for orthodox Christians. All Europe was astonished that You satisfied a demand of one biased and mentally disordered woman who took into her head that all Italy has to remove the crosses from the public places.

Honourable judges of the European Court of Human Rights, we hereby publicly ask You to stand up for discriminated orthodox Christians in Ukraine and help them to gain their legal rights. By Your attitude towards this case You pass judgement on Yourselves.

Thank You in advance for Your intervention and defence of the human rights of religious minorities in Ukraine.

On behalf of the UOGCC  

                        + Markian V. Hitiuk OSBMr

                                                                                                                              Lvov, 22nd September 2010

Copies to:

-         Presidents of Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Moldavia, Georgia and Armenia

-         Presidents of the EU member states

-         MPs of Ukraine

-         Pope Benedict XVI

-         Ukrainian mass media

Address: Synod of the UOGCC, 3 Sosnova St., Lvov - Bryukhovychi, 79491, Ukraine

www.uogcc.org.ua, www.community.org.ua; pidhirci.community@gmail.com