Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski has approved the imposition of sanctions against ten representatives of the Orthodox Church and a former parliamentarian, punitive measures including an asset freeze, as part of Kiev’s actions in response to the Russian invasion.
The Ukrainian Presidency has published on its website a decree accepting the decision of the National Security and Defense Council and stressing that «the implementation of the decree remains in the hands» of the body’s secretary. «This decree comes into force from the day of its publication,» it concluded.
Among those sanctioned are the vicar of the Cathedral of the Holy Dormition in Kiev, the metropolitan of Visgorod and Chernobyl, four bishops and the archbishop of Rovenkiv and Sverdlovsk. The list also includes former parliamentarian Vadim Novinsky, according to the Ukrainian news agency UNIAN.
The decree has been issued a day after Zelensky announced sanctions against 22 Russian clerics for allegedly supporting the war. «Sanctions have been imposed against 22 Russian citizens who, under the pretext of spirituality, support terror and genocidal policy,» Zelenski said.
Ukraine, which has been conducting searches of religious organizations for several weeks, claims that all these measures are being carried out to ensure national security and because the Orthodox Church spreads Russian propaganda and promotes conscription, among other «subversive» actions.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
