"Famous Ukrainians" signed a letter against the Ecumenical Patriarch's visit to Kyiv

The Moscow Church categorically opposes the visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Ukraine, which does not recognize the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church over Kyiv. She published a letter in which "well-known Ukrainians", or rather pro-Russian figures in Ukraine, appealed to the Ecumenical Patriarch and urged him to "postpone his visit", writes df.news.

In particular, the letter was signed by:

Academician of the Academy of Economic Sciences of Ukraine Anatoly Peshko;

academician of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, Vitaly Zhuravsky, who, according to the results of the annual research of the Institute of Mass Information and the Independent Media Trade Union, was among the ten biggest enemies of the Ukrainian press in 2012-2013;

academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Petro Tolochko, who does not recognize the Holodomor as genocide and previously called Tomos "harmful". He also spoke in the Russian Federation, broadcasting myths that supported Putin's propaganda;

musician and producer Oleg Karamazov, awarded by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin for strengthening relations between the Russian and Ukrainian peoples. Karamazov's award ceremony was held in the Moscow Kremlin.

Among the signatories against Bartholomew's visit are the "honored doctor of Ukraine" and at the same time the priest of the Russian Orthodox Church Rostyslav Valikhnovsky and the president of the pro-Russian media holding "Novosti" and "Inter" Yehor Benkendorf. Since 2016, Benkendorf has been the director of Channel 112, now banned in Ukraine.

The letter was also signed by TV producer Yuriy Molchanov, who previously stated that "mutated nationalism" had led to a split in society. Molchanov was actively involved in information attacks and lobbied for a pro-Russian position in the mass media. In January 2020, on the air of TV channel "112", Molchanov praised "Strana.ua" as an authoritative publication that helps fight fakes. He took part in the "People of Peace" forum organized by the Russian Orthodox Church. At this forum, a believer of the Mospatriarchy asked the soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to "dig trenches in their house."

"Famous Ukrainians" in the letter note that they will not participate in the solemn events in honor of the Independence Day of Ukraine, at which the presence of the Ecumenical Patriarch is expected. Pro-Russian figures are sure that the visit of Bartholomew may cause an aggravation of the religious situation, Glavkom reports.

"Shouldn't you reconsider your plans? After all, first of all, according to the Constitution of Ukraine, religious organizations in our country are separated from the state, and secondly, there are well-founded expectations that your arrival at the celebration of the Independence Day of Ukraine may cause an aggravation of the religious situation," says the letter of supporters Russia in Ukraine.

The signatories also noted that the granting of the Tomos to the OCU took place "without taking into account the position" and "against the will" of the Russian Orthodox Church.