More than 140 MPs did not sign a document in support of the ban on the UOC-MP, which is to be considered in the second reading. The document was created by an inter-factional group consisting of MPs from all factions and groups, except for the Platform for Life and Peace and Restoration of Ukraine, the former pro-Russian Opposition Platform For Life.
Representatives of all factions were involved in collecting signatures, and this document is final. This was reported by LB.ua's sources in the parliament.
The group was created after the rostrum of the Verkhovna Rada was blocked by MPs of the European Solidarity faction, who demanded the creation of a Temporary Investigation Commission on Fortifications and a ban on the UOC (MP).
Representatives of the European Solidarity and Holos factions signed the bill "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on the Activities of Religious Organisations in Ukraine" (No. 8371) in full.
LB.ua obtained a list of those who refused to sign. It includes 146 MPs, including those currently under investigation, such as Nestor Shufrych. Among those who did not support the bill, about 90 MPs are from the Servant of the People party. Two from Batkivshchyna did not support it.
"As the head of the relevant committee, I hope that by the next plenary session (no earlier than the second week of July - ed.) the number of signatories will increase. Frankly speaking, I am surprised by the lack of signatures of people who, for example, supported the draft law in the first reading," Mykyta Poturayev, chairman of the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, told LB.ua.
According to LB.ua's own information, as of now, there are 221 signatures in favour. It is expected that after the National Prayer Breakfast (scheduled for this Saturday), about seven Protestants from different parliamentary groups may join them (none of them have signed so far).
The name of the head of the Servant faction, David Arakhamiya, is also missing from the list of signatories.
"He is still saying that he is 'above the fray'," a source told LB.ua. "But if he signs, several more people will automatically join. Overall, we expect that with 226 signatures, we can get 236-240 final votes."