Ukrainian lawmaker says Church tax model under discussion

Ukrainian lawmakers are discussing the possibility of introducing a church tax system that would allow citizens to direct a portion of their taxes to the religious community of their choice, according to Nikita Poturaev, chairman of the Verkhovna Rada's Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy.

Speaking about potential reforms in state-church relations, Poturaev said the proposed mechanism would enable Ukrainians to support religious organisations through the tax system rather than relying solely on direct donations, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

"We must ensure the right of Ukrainian citizens to support our churches not through direct donations, but with a single click, by allocating a percentage of their taxes," Poturaev said.

The lawmaker emphasised Ukraine's religious diversity, noting that citizens belong to various faiths and denominations, not only Orthodox Christianity. He suggested that any future system should provide equal opportunities for different religious communities to receive support from their members.

Poturaev also said that Ukraine should consider various models of cooperation between the state and religious institutions in the future, although he did not provide details on specific legislative proposals or a timeline for implementation.

By Sabina Mammadli