comment: >
  
  Aka ethnic cleansing
context: This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 67%. (I'm a bot)
  
  
  By Decree No. 898/2022 of December 28, 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky suspended the citizenship of a number of priests with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
  According to the publication's sources, Zelensky suspended the citizenship of 13 clerics of the UOC. In particular, it is about Metropolitan Ionafan of Tulchyn and Bratslav, who has been charged with treason.
  Many clergymen were found to hold Russian citizenship, store pro-Russian propaganda literature and millions in cash.
  
  
  Extended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: citizenship^#1 Ukraine^#2 Zelensky^#3 suspended^#4 number^#5 >
  
  
  Many clergymen were found to hold Russian citizenship, store pro-Russian propaganda literature and millions in cash.
  
  Underaged choirboys were also "held". >
  
  What ever happens to the good o' priest who would just fuck the nuns?? >
  
  Women's liberation happened. Women deemed immoral are no longer shamed by society into the nunnery to atone for their sinful ways, so the population in the convents ends up being formed predominantly from the kind of women who actually believe in the whole chastity thing. >
  
  One of my first jobs was in the kitchens of a Catholic care home that used to be full on Magdalene Sisters.
  Severe mental disability?  In the home.  Child out of wedlock?  In the home.  Raped by your brother and kept going on about it despite being told to shut up?  In the home.
  They were elderly and institutionalised by the time I got there in the 90s and the place had been taken over by an actual care home chain.  Shocking stories though. >
  
  Holy shite you worked in a Magdalene laundry?! That’s horrific. Well a care home by then but Jesus, so awful how we let the Catholic Church treat young women in Ireland >
  
  My aunt was packed off to a Magdalene home in the 60s when she got pregnant at 18. They worked her to the bone, verbally and mentally abused her and the other women, and beat them with canes. The nuns called her a tramp and a wh0re. She said the place was like a prison and a lot of the girls & women were sexually abused by the priests and nuns.
  The moment her baby was born they took him away, she never got a glimpse of him, then they kicked her out. It took her 40 years to find him, he was in NYC and they finally met a few years ago. The Church had been taking babies from these laundries and selling them to rich Americans to adopt, it was a very lucrative business for them. >
  
  That's how part of my family came to Canada. My great (great?) Grandmother sent her two sons to stay with the church during the blitz in London and the church sold them off to some guy in Ontario to work on his farm. She came to get them back afterwards and they were gone. I dunno if she ever found them again. >
  
  
  Many clergymen were found to hold Russian citizenship
  
  So it's possible because of it. You can't legally remove the only citizenship of a human being but you can when there's several >
  
  At the level of nations, the only thing that is illegal is what that nation itself accepts as illegal, or has forced upon them as illegal through war. >
  
  So I looked it up, and according to Wikipedia, Ukraine signed the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, where:
  
  Absent circumstances of fraudulent application or disloyalty toward the contracting state, deprivations and renunciations of citizenship shall only take effect where a person has or subsequently obtains another nationality in replacement (article 8).
  
  So I guess they can justify it by "disloyalty toward the contracting state". >
  
  So did the UK, and they turned someone stateless precisely due to disloyalty. >
  
  She literally joined ISIS >
  
  You can be stripped off citizenship if you have one from different country. If they had RU passports, it would be a reason. Russian churches in Ukraine were just propaganda places full of agents. >
  
  Wasn’t it Norway or some such place where they had to enact laws against Russian Churches because they were essentially just government hideouts? >
  
  It's weird that the Russian Orthodox Church survived the famously atheist USSR...
  ...until you realise that the KGB had thoroughly and totally infiltrated them and turned them into an extension of the state. That's how they survived, and continue to do so. >
  
  It's not like they were a bastion of scruples before the soviets, though. Rich, venal men suckling at the teat of autocracy for 600 years. >
  
  
  It's not like they were a bastion of scruples ..., though. Rich, venal men suckling
  
  So ... just like evangelists in America? >
  
  Whew, that was close, we almost got 5 comments deep without throwing shade at the US. >
  
  Eh the evangelists here deserve a lot of criticism >
  
  Agreed… I typically get peeved at these kind of comments but honestly this is arguably relevant and 100% accurate. >
  
  I don't view this as an attack or shade on the US as a whole, either. The Evangelicals here are just a shitty group that happens to be American, it's not that being American makes them shitty.
  Plus, as you said, it's a relevant and accurate comparison. >
  
  It is kinda funny that they "happened to me American". They were deported there. Europeans countries saw an easy way of getting ris of all the religious nut jobs back in the day, and they took it. So there is a good reason all these different churches are around America and not to the same extent in Europe. >
  
  Cue Tucker Carlson raving about Zelensky’s war on Christianity. >
  
  Lol he was already raving about it before the plan even went through.
  Claimed that they were banning the entire Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Not even making this up. >
  
  Carlson's hypocrisy on Ukraine has been breathtaking as usual.
  Another narrative he made up was that Zelensky was turning into a dictator because the state took partial control over TV networks for emergency broadcasts. The execution of that were pretty much identical to the emergency plan in the USA, which Fox News certainly know about.
  And of course he saw that narrative confirmed when Ukraine banned some small pro-Russian opposition parties, many of whose leaders had already fled to Russia and were actively supporting the invasion. >
  
  At some point Ukraine is going to have to denounce Fox as being an extension of the kremlin’s propaganda network. It isn’t quite as bad as RT, but tucker and co are sure trying to make it so >
  
  Ukraine can't afford to risk US aid, so they just have to suck it up and try to appease Republicans. As painful as it is. >
  
  "If you love it so much, why don't you live there?", but in the best way possible. >
  
  Yikes, sounds like someone is looking for an excuse to express awful thoughts...
  Going to a country to be part of free society but still enjoying a different culture is light-years away from subverting and assaulting a country for personal wealth and power. >
  
  My dude, I'm the kid of a middle eastern father and European mother. I've seen at least as many European men talk about women as objects or property as the Muslim men. Turns out, sexism comes in different flavors but people like you love to create drama about someone else to mask your own.  
  If anything, I've noticed the people that complain about migrants are hardly feminists themselves. They'll just as easily say that Europe has lost its way and women should return to more "traditional" values. 
  So yes, you are either blind in the mirror or a racist. But when you say that, the "Europeans" feel attacked. >
  
  Yes, men all over the world have issues when it comes to objectifying women. The question at hand is whether or not these men act out physically against them. 
  The data on that issue is clear. Migrants are much more likely to commit sexual crimes against women (2 to 4 times more likely)
  Here is the Finnish study
  And here is the French study >
  
  And were these studies conducted on immigration of limited specific cultures, limited specific ethnicities, or to limited specific countries? Or was it done on immigration of varying immigrants to varying countries? >
  
  Did they fail to realize they're at war? Aid and comfort to the enemy is typically considered treason. One of them is charged with that. They could all have suffered a fate much worse. >
  
  The Russian orthodox faith is more like a state (Russian state that is) religion. So all of the clergy are loyal to Russia. >
  
  And apparently the Russian Orthodox clergy is an intelligence agency. Which is less surprising when you remember that the head of it is a former KGB agent. >
  
  At one point in the 1980s every Russian bishop and the vast majority of priests were KGB informants. >
  
  Unsurprising.  The real purpose of this "church" is to promote Kremlin propaganda and recruit spies.  It is an organ of the state and it's so called priests are nothing more than agents of the Kremlin. >
  
  Stripping their citizenship is fairly mild then considering there's a fair argument for considering them enemy combatants. >
  
  Spies, not combatants.
  Enemy combatants are generally protected under the Geneva convention. Enemy spies, under the convention, can be hanged or stood in front of a firing post.
  Here's Nazi spies being executed by US soldiers in WW2 Belgium (NSFW). This would not be legal if it were enemy intelligence officers (or NCMs) rather than covert spies.
  Stripping the dual-citizenship holders of their UA nationality is absolutely a fairly mild outcome, given the circumstance. >
  
  So do they get deported to Russia? Then get sent back to the front line Ukraine to get killed as a Russian Conscript? >
  
  Pretty much. >
  
  It sounds bad until you read the whole story. They hold Russian citizenship and are paid to be part of the propaganda machine. >
  
  Yep, open and shut case of treason. Thats a fair reason to lose citizenship imo. Especially during wartime. >
  
  Surprised they did not prosecute them for treason instead. But I suppose doing this will just bait Moscow to either offer these traitors citizenship if they already were not russian citizens or leave these pricks in limbo. >
  
  i wish people would realize that every russian institution and their branches are influenced by FSB.
  I also wish that people would realize that the only banned ukrainian opposition party is the one with direct traces to russia, and it's STILL not completely outlawed - the members just change the name of the party and hide.
  like, Medvedchuk, one of the leaders of banned OPFL. his daughters' godfather is literally Putin. Putin's relative himself founded the biggest opposition party of Ukraine.  like we proposed to exchange him for our prisoners, and russia literally agreed. what more proof do you need man.
  Russia has an insanely vast and developed spy network. it's a country run by KGB. every russian is a potential agent. sometimes it's so obvious it's not even funny.
  It's too bad that some people just refuse to listen >
  
  Nice pfp😎👍 >
  
  thanks lol, likewise >
  
  probably fake priests but planted russian spies >
  
  Ukraine has many pro-Russian people as well as members of the government of Ukraine. I believe the elections are this year and I imagine many of these will be voted out as a lot of pro-Russian's have changed their minds about Russia since this war has started. The Russian Orthodox church appears to indeed be a branch of the Russian KGB and have been for decades. They are paying the people who are informing Russian's where the troops, armour and munitions are stored and it's amazing what $25.00 USD will buy you in Ukraine. This is about $919.46 hryvnia while the the median salary in Kiev is about 24,000 UAH (USD 881/month). $25.00 will get you  $1812.50 Russian Ruble's. 
  Many churches are being investigated for recruiting people at the moment and if these people hold Russian citizenship, why can't he do this? >
  
  Worth mentioning that it’s not just priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, but specifically priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchy >
  
  If this was just pro-Russian, I might be slightly concerned about this occurring. However, what the article goes into is likely material support for Russia. That is considered treason anywhere and they would be deserving of losing citizenship at a minimum. >
  
  Storing millions in cash in a country like Ukraine is fucked, how long had they been in positions of influence in the church is what I want to know >
  
  Dude the head of UOC MP is nicknamed Pasha Mercedes and he's been known to employ thugs and henchmen to threaten and beat up journalists who were investigating his wealth. He even called it "divine judgement". >
  
  Expelled for activities inconsistent with their theological status.
  In other words... spies are spies, whether or not they wear cassocks. >
  
  There are a LOT of Russia lovers in here.  I wish this cesspool didn’t show up in my feed. >
  
  Happy cake day...
  And yeah you are correct, there are so many keyboard warriors here that should be flying to Russia to be conscripted and show us how much they truly love Russia... >
  
  Thanks 🥂 >
  
  How can you strip them of citizenship if they were born there? >
  
  Many countries do so or consider doing so under certain conditions. UK for instance did exactly that to a girl that decided to fly off and join ISIS (technically speaking she had double citizenship). >
  
  
  technically speaking she had double citizenship
  
  Only according to the UK Home Office. Bangladesh responded with confusion. >
  
  Shes automatically a citizen of Bangladesh because she was born to at least one Bangladeshi parent. Of course, Bangladesh also has no intentions of taking her in even if that's the case. >
  
  It's worse than that, Bangladesh has said they'd pursue the death penalty if she ever showed up at their door. Somehow that is ok with the UK home office. >
  
  Yeah they don't care. That tends to happen when you join the most notorious terrorist militia in the world and participate in atrocities first hand. >
  
  Caring about people not being executed should be a thing though. If not why doesnt the UK just bring back the death penalty?
  There is no difference between excuting someone yourself or sending them off to a place where you know they will be executed.
  The reason they should care is exactly to not think like ISIS or whatever other shithole that executes people. Not executing people is kind of a defining feature of western europe. Taking revenge on someone like that sounds great emotionally, but you're compromising on the ideals that define your society. >
  
  No one sent Begum anywhere, she left the UK on her own. I highly doubt not wanting a terrorist back into your country "compromises" Western ideals. It doesn't. >
  
  So many angry people in this thread. There is no problem here, they aren't in prison, they are free to return to their native land, Muscovy. >
  
  All commentators who said this is some human rights violation did not bother to open the link and read the article. Well done! >
  
  Lucky priests. 
  Treason is usually treated more harshly. >
  
  Fox News: “Totalitarian monster Zelensky wages war on Christianity.” >
  
  Good, fuck the corrupted scumbags. >
  
  Given how the church behaved early on I wonder if a lot of them were getting paid by Russia. >
  
  The Russian Orthodox Church is literally an extension of the Russian intelligence agencies >
  
  I recall that the Berrigen brothers and other religious anti-war protesters were also prosecuted by our government, as well as many others who had the courage to take a stand against US foreign policy. >
  
  Good. How can you be a "man of god" and stand by as god's children are being murdered by a mad dictator unprovoked? You give men like me more reason to argue how absolutely ridiculous religion truly is. >
  
  Kick those nazis out. >
  
  Next, ~~Japanese~~ Russian internment? >
  
  lol @ the amount of propogandists in this thread, Russian nazis are really getting desperate >
  
  Send them to Russia to be conscripted!! >
  
  Time to get rid of dead weights. >
  
  Priests? FSB shills who pimp their religion to criminal scum. >
  
  Good for him. Get that trash out. >
  
  I got hammered with a Ukrainian Jew last night. Great guy. Fuck Russia >
  
  Better than getting hammered with a Russian deserter. >
  
  What >
  
  Google "wagner sledgehammer" >
  
  Why wait almost a year into the war to do this? I would think they would have done this early if they were a real security issue. So to me this is purely sending a message. What message and why? idk. >
  
  The more I hear about Zelensky, the more I admire him. >
  
  Time to start looking at some of our American evangelical Christian leadership. >
  
  Fucked aroun, found out >
  
  Glad he’s not becoming a dictator >
  
  It’s very simple. Ukraine does not allow dual citizenship. This is smart considering the unique level of danger Ukraine is in. If somebody wants to get another country’s citizenship, they can, but then must forfeit their Ukrainian citizenship. These priests didn’t do that, thus breaking the law. Investigation by the Security Service identified this and Zelenskyy did what these priests should have done themselves when they acquired Russian citizenship. There is no problem here, no ethical violation, no violation of human rights principles. >
  
  are you against dual citizenship in genereal? >
  
  I am for allowing sovereign states making that decision based on their own assessment of national security threat vs benefits. >
  
  It's incredible to read the majority of comments in here blindly supporting an unambiguous breach of human rights. Sure they might have a shit opinion, but being stripped of citizenship over opinions is anti-democratic and anti-humanist. This is exactly the kind of shit we hate Putin for but it's being cheered on in Ukraine cause it's being done by Our Guy. Surreal to see. >
  
  The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is autonomous and headed by metropolitan Onuphry, who has removed all mention of Moscow from their legal doucments. >
  
  What if the US did this for imams that were pro iraq? >
  
  In your hypothetical is Iraq actively invading the US and do the imams hold Iraqi citizenship and are they calling for the US to surrender its sovereignty to Iraq? >
  
  It's not even a hypothetical.
  The US already does this. >
  
  This is the right way to separate church and state.
  The US also has evangelical ministers & pastors who actively proselytize sedition; wish our justice department had half a measure of Zelensky's balls to ship them to Russia.
  ED: Even more relevant in light of Bolsonaro supporters refusing to honor elections and invading Brazil's Congress.  Global democratic institutions are under attack by fascist traitors.  Serious enough, yet? >
  
  The fuck does depriving people of citizenship without due process have to do with 'separation of church and state'? >
  
  It doesn't, but some people on this sub can't understand the nuance of this situation, they made their minds and for then ukraine can do no bad, and If they do it's excusable because war. >
  
  Bunch of authoritarian fascists in liberal clothes. >
  
  The expeditious internment of all US citizens of Japanese descent of the west coast of North America, by both US and Canada in WWII was found to be illegal and unconstitutional...war was a very bad excuse. >
  
  Good for Ukraine. The really sad thing is, if we were attacked by Russia tomorrow, and portion of Americans would be defending Putin over Biden. And call themselves Patriots. >
  
  I am not even American but am aware of several publicly vocal Republicans that support Putin. They made it about Republicans and if Republicans don't like it, they should call those people out or kick them out of the party. It's disgusting. >
  
  Consequences for actively supporting an invading force = fascism? >
  
  Not allowing other views or opinions = fascism. >
  
  Aiding a country you're at war with typically constitutes treason which is illegal in most places. >
  
  Man, whaaat. That's wild. >
  
  They had ruzki passports, so it's not like they're left stateless. >
  
  kick their asses to the curb >
  
  When American shores were attacked we put the Japanese and Germans nationalists into camps. >
  
  Not nationalists. Japanese people put into concentration camps for being Japanese, not their political views. >
  
  Good now they can go fight on the front lines and show the world how close to their god they can be 🤣 >
  
  A few quick thoughts:
  
  Fuck Putin.  Let's start there.
  I'm gonna try as much as possible to apply this to any/all nations, and not simply Ukraine.  But it's fair to say few countries in modernity have faced what Ukraine is facing.  It's a very specialized case.
  In general, I am against stripping people of citizenship.  States who are claimed by citizens have a power of responsibility, both for their wellbeing and for their actions.  A non-citizen can't commit treason, for example.  So I view it as both unethical and counter-productive.
  This goes double without some kind of due process, which I confess I am far from having the knowledge of.  Did it happen?  I don't know.  The article uses the word "decree," which leads me to believe that the legal cases against them that are cited are still pending.
  The article uses the word "suspend," which might be different than the headline suggests.  I'd be much more on board with executive-issued suspensions, assuming they are within the laws of the host nation's parliament/constitution.
  
  That's me.  That's my thoughts.  Why did I write this?  I have no idea.  I guess it was just in my head. >
  
  According to the article all 13 had dual RU/Ukraine citizenship and were allegedly providing material support to Russia. These clergymen aren't stateless, they've just been denied Ukranian citizenship based on their actions and alleged treasonous activities. It's the Ukranian government's prerogative and interpretation of treasonous activity >
  
  Derussify Ukraine and Europe.