UKRAINIAN AUTOCEPHALOUS ORTHODOX CHURCH
OF NORTH & SOUTH AMERICA
SOBORNOPRAVNA
His Beatitude, Metropolitan Stephan, Primate
Chancery Office - Cleveland, Ohio


Friday, October 28, 2004

STATEMENT
METROPOLITAN STEPHAN PETROVICH
ON VLADIMIR PUTIN'S VISIT IN UKRAINE

Metropolitan Stephan Petrovich, Primate for the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church of North & South America and Western Europe-Sobornopravna, publicly urged U.S. President George W. Bush and the U.S. Congress to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent electioneering in Ukraine.

"It is remarkable," His Beatitude said, "that Ukraine is accorded such little respect as a sovereign nation by both Moscow and Washington. Moscow continues its policy of Russification. And Washington, in the land that purports to further liberty and democracy in the world, does nothing. Imagine if the king of Saudi Arabia came to the United States to endorse a presidential candidate?"

Metropolitan Stephan added, "Ukraine's October 31st presidential election will set the social, political, and cultural path for the ancestral homeland for the next century. It must be a fair and honest election. Sadly, the United States has not taken democracy in Ukraine as seriously as it has in Iraq. May God be with Ukraine and her people during this difficult period. President Bush and members of the U.S. Congress must speak out more forcefully about this tragic situation before Ukraine slips into the dark shadow of Russia."


Related Articles:

Metropolitan Michael: Divine Liturgy at Cathedral to Include Prayers for Ukrainian and American Elections.

Bishop Paul Commentary: Ukraine & Russia's Brew.

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