Verkhovna Rada backs bill to ban ROC activity in Ukraine: what will happen to the Russian Orthodox Church now

Members of the Verkhovna Rada passed a bill to ban the activity of religious organizations whose governing center is located in Russia (i.e., the Russian Orthodox Church). According to it, the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate may also be suspended in Ukraine.

Voting for document No. 8371 took place on August 20, and it was supported by 265 MPs. MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak said that the law will come into force 30 days after its publication.

"Except for one point - according to it, the UOC-MP communities will have nine months to break ties with the ROC," he explained.

By factions, the votes in the second reading were as follows:

Servant of the People - 173;

European Solidarity - 25;

Voice - 18;

Fatherland - 17;

Platform for Life and Peace - 13;

Trust - 11;

Non-factional - 11;

Group For the Future - nine;

Restoration of Ukraine - 0.