Ruslan Stefanchuk

Ruslan Stefanchuk

Date of birth: October 29, 1975

Chairman (Speaker) of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine since October 8, 2021; Member of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine since October 14, 2021.

As Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk has distinguished himself by public rhetoric of hatred toward believers and clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).

Stefanchuk has incited hostility against Orthodox Christians and has called for a legislative ban on the Church.

It was precisely under Stefanchuk’s leadership that all readings of Draft Law No. 3894, known as the “law banning the UOC,” were put to a vote and adopted.

December 7, 2021 Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk signed the Law “On the Service of Military Chaplaincy”.

Under this law, clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are deprived of the possibility of serving as military chaplains.

(Source: UOJ)

December 19, 2022 Stefanchuk transferred the St. Volodymyr Church of the UOC, located within the parliament building, for use by the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).

(Source: UOJ)

April 12, 2023 Stefanchuk stated that he had received approval from the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations regarding the state’s legislative initiatives to ban the UOC.

The Speaker reported that he had held a “frank conversation” with members of the Council about a number of draft laws aimed at ensuring that “the Russian enemy does not penetrate our hearts and souls.” Particular attention was paid to the draft Law “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Concerning the Activities of Religious Organizations in Ukraine” (No. 8371).

Stefanchuk said he received a letter from the Council “stating that churches and religious organizations support the consideration in the Ukrainian Parliament and the adoption as a basis of the said document. By this, they recognize that these relations must be regulated legislatively.”

(Source: UOJ)

December 12, 2023 Stefanchuk announced an upcoming vote on the draft law banning the UOC.

“The committee must finalize decisions, hold consultations, and adopt it as a proposal in the second reading,” Stefanchuk said. “I hope this issue can be resolved at the beginning of next year.”

(Source: UOJ)

January 5, 2024 Stefanchuk stated that he had refused requests from Members of Parliament to submit Draft Law No. 8371, which bans the UOC, for expert review by the Venice Commission.

(Source: UOJ)

July 24, 2024 Stefanchuk stated that after the blocking of the parliamentary rostrum, MPs would not go on recess but would continue working in committees on the law banning the UOC.

The Speaker added that MPs would focus on refining specific provisions of Law No. 8371 in order to expedite its “submission and voting in the chamber,” and that parliamentarians would engage in other activities closely related to the preparation of this draft law.

(Source: UOJ)

August 23, 2024 Stefanchuk signed and forwarded to the President for signature Draft Law No. 8371, which effectively bans the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

(Source: UOJ)