A roundtable discussion on “Religious Persecution in the Occupied Territories of Donbas and Crimea” was held at the Ukrainian House in Washington on February 10.
The event took place as part of the visit of a delegation from Ukraine for the Ukrainian Prayer Dinner.
The roundtable brought together representatives of the largest human rights organizations in the field of religion and freedom of speech, such as International Religious Freedom, ADF international, and Baptist World Alliance, according to Slovo Pro Slovo.
Samuel Brownback, US Ambassador for International Religious Freedom (2018-2021), who is well aware of the situation in Ukraine and has visited Kyiv several times, said that religious freedom is a fundamental right, not a matter of debate or blackmail. Unfortunately, he added, in times of aggression, Russia exposes its true, undemocratic face, and this must be stopped.
Bishop of the Union of Evangelical Baptists Ihor Bandura reported on the difficult situation with freedom of speech in territories beyond Ukraine’s control, especially in Crimea, where churches are under threat of mass persecution, and called for Ukraine’s support in this difficult situation.
Anatoliy Urbanskyi, People’s Deputy of Ukraine, called for defending freedom of speech in Ukraine and real support for churches: “If there are more churches, there will be fewer prisons.”
U.S. Senate Spokeswoman Susan Occhipinti spoke about U.S., including Senate, support and plans to strengthen the U.S. role in ensuring freedom of speech.
