STATE POLICY ON RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS: AN ANALYSIS OF THE BALANCE BETWEEN FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND NATIONAL SECURITY

Abstract

B a c k g r o u n d . The article emphasizes that under current conditions of external aggression and hybrid warfare, Ukraine's religious sphere has become a focal point of state policy. It is established that the relevance of the topic is driven by the necessity to simultaneously ensure freedom of religion, guaranteed by the Constitution of Ukraine, and to safeguard national security from external influence exerted through religious institutions. It is demonstrated that the state's policy towards religious organizations has undergone a profound transformation under the impact of the war, the granting of the Tomos, and the provocative activities of certain religious leaders and hierarchs.

M e t h o d s . In preparing the article, a set of methodological approaches was applied to ensure a multidimensional analysis of the research problem. The historical method was used to examine interfaith and state–church relations in their dynamics and historical perspective. Content analysis made it possible to assess the current state of the security environment in the religious sphere. The hermeneutic method was employed to interpret laws and statutory documents, as well as the principal sacred texts of the leading denominations represented in Ukraine. The comparative method was applied to juxtapose the data presented in the reports of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience with the statistical materials of religious organizations. The method of expert evaluations and statistical analysis of sociological data enabled the assessment of Ukrainian citizens' attitudes toward religious organizations and the processes taking place in society. The use of philosophical and general scientific methods ensured an integrated study and facilitated the development of forecasts and overall analytics regarding the transformation of state–church relations and state policy in the religious sphere.

R e s u l t s . The study revealed that the Ukrainian state is gradually developing a regulatory framework to respond to threats posed by religious structures that may be linked to the aggressor state. It was established that the key policy instruments in this sphere include legislative amendments, bans on the activities of certain denominations, judicial practice, as well as measures of state control and monitoring. At the same time, existing legal challenges were identified, particularly those related to compliance with international standards on freedom of conscience.

C o n c l u s i o n s . It has been demonstrated that an effective state policy toward religious organizations must ensure a balanced approach: on the one hand, guaranteeing the rights of believers, and on the other, taking preventive measures in response to potential security threats. Such a balance is achievable only under the conditions of transparent law enforcement practices, interagency coordination, and adherence to the legal standards of a democratic society.