DISINFO: 50 Churches in Ukraine have been seized from the Moscow Patriarchate
SUMMARY
During the past few months, the self-proclaimed rulers in Kiyv have seized about 50 churches in Ukraine from the Moscow Patriarchate. Although it was promised that there be no involuntary action, churches are, according to the new laws, seized from the Moscow Patriarchate.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation: a similar story was aired in the autumn of 2018 by the Russian TV-station Perviy Kanal: 50 churches taken from Moscow Patriarchate. According to the new Ukrainian law on religious communities, the membership in a religious community is based on the principles of free will. The decision to change the subordination of a community or transfer its property is made by the religious community itself, based on majority vote.