Ukrainian president signs law on subordination of religious organizations

"The law provides for mechanisms that will establish how a religious organization can change its subordination to religious centers (administrations) operating in Ukraine and abroad," the report says.

It notes that according to the document, the decisions to change subordination and to make respective amendments or additions to the statute are approved at a general meeting of a religious community by at least two-thirds of its composition. These decisions are certified by the signatures of members of the religious community.

According to the law, the decision to change subordination and to make respective amendments to the statute is subject to registration in accordance with the procedure established by Article 14 of the Law of Ukraine "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations."

The list of documents, which must be submitted to the registration authority for registration of the statute (clause) of the religious community, is also specified.

The final provisions of the law stipulate that a religious organization, in the event of a decision to change its subordination, should notify the central executive authority implementing the state policy in the field of religion, or regional administrations, Kyiv and Sevastopol city state administrations and in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea – the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea – about such a decision. The decision is published on the official websites of the government agencies.

The law takes effect from the day following the day it is published.

The Verkhovna Rada adopted the law of Ukraine introducing amendments to certain laws of Ukraine regarding the subordination of religious organizations and the procedure for state registration of religious organizations with legal status on January 17, 2019.