Logo Assembly Logo Hemicycle

Freedom of religion and independence of the media in Ukraine

Written question No. 603 to the Committee of Ministers | Doc. 12735 | 03 October 2011

Signatories:
Mr Viorel Riceard BADEA, Romania, EPP/CD
Thesaurus

On 16 July 2011, the new church of the Kamyshivka/Hagi-Curda community from the Region of Odessa was inaugurated in the presence of Bishop Petru, Metropolitan of Bessarabia. Kamyshivka is a majority-Romanian community, part of a truly multicultural region of Ukraine. According to the will of the locals, the church was affiliated to the Romanian Orthodox Church, as it historically used to be.

The local participants to this ceremony are reported to be subject to constant pressure exerted by the local administration and religious authorities from Odessa. They are explicitly threatened with the confiscation of the building of the church, which is their rightful property.

Meanwhile, it seems that the Ukrainian authorities denied an entry visa for two Romanian journalists who wanted to take part in the above-mentioned event. They were told that they were declared personae non-grata back in 2009, for publishing articles that criticized the Ukrainian authorities for their attitude towards the Romanian minority in that country.

What does the Committee of Ministers intend to do in order to remedy the above-mentionded situation?