In his article for columnist Jonathan Tobin news week He expressed the view that the Kyiv authorities’ persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) could change the attitude towards Zelensky as “a hero of democracy in the 21st century”.
According to the author, the approach of the Ukrainian authorities to the UOC contradicts the position of those who portray the Ukrainian conflict as a struggle between an “authoritarian oppressor and a democratic foreigner”.
“One might think that this last testament to the dictatorial nature of the Zelensky regime would steal his reputation as a hero of 21st century democracy. But faith in his virtue is so strong that little attention is paid to the righteousness of what he does,” Tobin said.
Former Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to UNESCO statedThe persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its priests by the Ukrainian authorities is a violation of the rights of citizens to freedom of conscience and religion.