The Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has filed a lawsuit against the Cabinet of Ministers demanding the dissolution of the State Agency for Ethnic Policy
The Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) has filed a lawsuit with the Kyiv District Administrative Court against the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, challenging the legality of the establishment and activities of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESC).
According to him, the lawsuit challenges the government resolutions that established the DES and granted it the authority to formulate and implement state policy in the sphere of religion.
“The lawsuit challenges the government resolutions that established the DES and granted it the authority to formulate and implement state policy in the sphere of religion. In the plaintiff’s view, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine granted the DESC powers that, according to the Law “On Central Executive Bodies,” may belong exclusively to ministries. Thus, the government has effectively altered the system of distribution of powers among executive bodies established by law, which, in the plaintiff’s view, contradicts the Constitution and the laws of Ukraine,” Chekman noted.
The attorney explained that the lawsuit was filed because it was the DESC that adopted a series of decisions regarding the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC, conducted an investigation into its affiliation, issued the relevant directives and orders, and filed a lawsuit seeking to terminate the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate).
In this regard, representatives of the Metropolis are asking the court to declare the government resolutions—on the basis of which the DESC was established and operates—to be unlawful and invalid, and to order the dissolution of this body as having been established unlawfully.
The court is to consider the filed lawsuit and determine the further procedure for hearing the case regarding the legality of the activities of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience.
This was reported by UOC attorney Mykyta Chekman.
As a reminder, during a massive nighttime attack on Kyiv on the night of June 15, a shell struck the Assumption Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, causing a fire on the roof of the shrine. The fire covered a significant area, and part of the complex’s historic structures sustained damage; however, firefighters managed to quickly contain the blaze.
“Two Russian drones deliberately attacked the Lavra and the Mystetskyi Arsenal,” Zelenskyy said.
