UN evokes freedom of religion in light of situation surrounding Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra

NEW YORK, UN. March 15 (Interfax) - The United Nations is yet unable to comment on the events at the Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra, but it reiterates that it is a duty of all countries to guarantee freedom of religion and belief, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said.

"We, at this point, are not in a position to comment due to limited information. However, it bears reminding of the position in principle. The secretary-general believes that any state should guarantee the effective exercise of the right to the freedom of religion and belief, including by protecting places of worship," he said at a briefing on Wednesday, answering a question about Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Dujarric said that he personally has not seen this letter, but has seen the letter Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All-Russia wrote to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and, therefore, encouraged to make inquiries about this matter with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

It was reported on Tuesday that Lavrov sent a letter to Guterres and Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Bujar Osmani in light of the situation surrounding the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.