Court halts operations of the Rovenky Diocese of the UOC but does not confiscate its property

Court ruling on the diocese's activities

The Sixth Administrative Court of Appeal issued a ruling upholding the claim filed by the State Service for Ethnopolitics. Accordingly, the activities of the Administration of the Rovenky Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, located in the Luhansk region, are to be terminated. The primary argument for this step was the guilty verdict against the head of the organisation.

Grounds for termination of operations

The head of the Rovenky Diocese is Vasyl Povoroznyuk. He was convicted in absentia to 11 years of imprisonment on charges of aiding the aggressor state. This fact served as the basis for terminating the functioning of the religious organisation.

Property remains with the organisation

Despite the termination of activities, the court refused the state's request to transfer the property, financial funds, and other assets of the Rovenky Diocese. The panel of judges explained their position by stating that current legislation does not contain a clear mechanism for terminating a religious organisation and subsequently transferring its ownership to the state. The judges emphasised that they do not have the authority to independently establish such a procedure.

Status of the ruling

The ruling in case No. 855/11/26 has not yet entered into legal force. The parties have the right to appeal it within 20 days of its publication.