Wed Sep 25 09:50:00 UTC 2024: ## Ukrainian Lawmaker Flees to UK, Claims Persecution Over Church Criticism
A Ukrainian lawmaker and Orthodox deacon, Artyom Dmitruk, has won a preliminary hearing in a UK court against his extradition to Ukraine. Dmitruk claims he fled the country in August due to persecution for his public criticism of the Ukrainian government’s crackdown on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), which has historical ties to the Moscow Patriarchate.
Dmitruk alleges that he is facing criminal charges for his views on the UOC, which the Ukrainian government accuses of being subservient to Russia. He claims his life was in danger in Ukraine and that his family was surveilled in Europe in a possible kidnapping plot. He even alleges that a “bounty” has been put on his head by Ukrainian nationalists, with former MP Andrey Lozovoy offering a reward for information about his whereabouts.
Despite these claims, Ukraine’s President Zelensky and Prosecutor General Kostin reportedly contacted UK officials to expedite the extradition case. However, Dmitruk, who has been granted security by the British government, won the preliminary hearing and will remain in the UK for now.
This case highlights the growing tension surrounding the Ukrainian government’s policies towards the UOC. The situation is further complicated by claims of political persecution and potential threats against Dmitruk, highlighting the volatile political landscape in Ukraine.
First Piper 