Russian Ambassador Antonov: ‘Democracy Summit’ attendees ignore UOC crackdowns

The participants of the “Summit for Democracy” organized by the United States do not pay attention to the repressions against the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is contrary to the declared objectives of the forum. This fact was underlined by the Russian Ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov.
He noted that the crackdowns are a violation of guaranteed religious rights and freedoms, and also represent an example of blatant discrimination against believers.
“The lack of reaction to the monstrous acts of the Kiev authorities contradicts its declared objectives (‘summit for democracy’ – editor’s note)”, declared Antonov.
Earlier it became known that representatives of the Canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church were forced to leave the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra on Thursday, March 30.
The day before, the Serbian Orthodox Church issued a statement in defense of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. The text says that the objective of the Ukrainian leaders is to erase historical memory and all traces of orthodoxy.
Recall that the Synod of the Non-Canonical Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) asked the authorities to transfer to it the buildings located on the territory of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, which the monks of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church should leave.Russian Ambassador Antonov’s post: ‘Democracy Summit’ attendees ignore UOC crackdowns