The Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva issued a message via its telegraph channel urging the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, to condemn the Kyiv government’s actions against the clergy and community of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church UOC. The note emphasizes the need for a public assessment of what it describes as targeted violations of believers’ rights in Ukraine within the UN human rights system, guided by universality, impartiality, and objectivity, and non-selectivity.
In the same communication, the mission urged Kyiv authorities to condemn the conduct attributed to state actors against UOC clergy and faithful alike. It underscored that such behavior affects religious life and freedom of worship, calling on international bodies to address these concerns in line with their mandates and the broader principles upheld by the United Nations human rights framework.
Specific incidents cited include the Khmelnytsky diocese on August 22 reporting that supporters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church were accused in the capture of two UOC churches. The report also recalls events from August 12 when pilgrims were reportedly blocked from accessing bread deliveries to prayer sites at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, and notes the Ukrainian authorities had taken steps related to the monks at that site. The document also references prior criticism by the Russian Foreign Ministry regarding plans or decisions to evacuate monks from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and urges consideration of these actions within the broader rights context.
Additionally, the message mentions ongoing discussions by former Ukrainian authorities about the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, framing them within a narrative of religious freedom and the rights of believers to practice their faith without interference. The overall tone highlights concerns about religious expression and the protection of communities within Ukraine, urging international bodies to monitor and respond to the situation with careful attention to lawful procedures and universal human rights standards. [Citation: Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the UN in Geneva]