UOC defenders in U.S. reject accusations of being “Russian agents”
Stefano Forte. Photo: uoj.news
On December 16, 2025, Stefano Forte, president of the New York Young Republican Club, rejected accusations that defenders of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church hold a pro-Russian position.
Forte emphasized that at the rally in defense of the UOC held near the White House, he was present first and foremost as an Orthodox Christian.
Referring to earlier statements by Congressman Joe Wilson, who accused UOC defenders of holding pro-Russian views, Forte stressed that those who speak out in defense of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are not “Russian agents.”
According to him, "to paint a group of concerned Christians with such a broad brush is wrong, dangerous, and frankly, it lowers discourse."
He closed his remarks by calling on all those present to stand together against the persecution, not just as Orthodox Christians, but as “good, God-fearing, decent people” to say with one voice that the treatment of the UOC by the Zelenskyy regime will not be tolerated.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that a U.S. politician had voiced demands to defend the UOC.
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