Written question asked by Lord Patten (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Warsi (Conservative) on Tuesday, 25 March 2014.

Ukraine

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the religious freedoms of the Greek Catholic Church on the Crimean peninsula.[HL6074]

Answer

We were concerned to hear reports that some Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) priests in Crimea had been subjected to written and verbal intimidation. There are credible reports that risk of further persecution remains high and some priests have gone into hiding. However, many priests continue to serve at their churches as they wish to support their congregations though the current crisis. On 18 March the Major Archbishop of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, met with the Pope and thanked him for the support he has offered Ukraine so far during the crisis.

The British Government is committed to confronting religious persecution wherever it occurs. We strongly support the human rights assessment work being carried out in Ukraine by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office on Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and also the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, which

aims to collect and establish reliable information on events in Ukraine and Crimea with an impact on human or minority rights.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL6074; 753 cc108-9WA
Session: 2013-14
Subjects: Religious freedom Ukraine Crimea
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk

Ukraine

Secondary information

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