Robert Amsterdam: “Christian Genocide” Claim Gains Traction After Tucker Carlson Interview 

A recent interview with veteran U.S. Attorney Robert Amsterdam on Tucker Carlson’s platform has sparked renewed debate over allegations of a systematic “Christian genocide” in Ukraine. Amsterdam, who represents the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) pro bono, told Carlson that the Ukrainian government’s crackdown on clergy and seizure of church properties amounts to a coordinated effort to eradicate the nation’s historic Christian community.

During the 10‑minute segment, Amsterdam detailed how over 1,000 churches have been forcibly taken, priests jailed, and parishioners harassed since the passage of a 2024 law banning religious organizations linked to Russia.

He warned that U.S. taxpayer funds, via USAID and other aid programs, may be indirectly supporting these actions, citing reports that American money has flowed to NGOs that align with the Ukrainian state’s anti‑UOC agenda.

“What we are witnessing is not merely persecution—it meets the threshold of genocide,” Amsterdam asserted, urging Western Christian leaders to break their silence.

The Kyiv‑Post and other outlets have reported that the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has been implicated in raids on monasteries, arrests of senior clergy, and the forced conscription of believers.

Critics argue that the timing of these measures—amid an ongoing war with Russia—serves political rather than security purposes, deepening fears of a broader assault on religious freedom.

Amsterdam’s comments come as a United Nations report notes that Ukraine’s ban on the UOC lacks a legal basis under international law, raising concerns about violations of the right to freedom of religion.

The lawyer also highlighted the role of Viktor Yelensky, a senior official in Ukraine’s Department for Religious Affairs, whom he accused of orchestrating the persecution.

The controversy has reverberated across the Atlantic, with some U.S. lawmakers calling for an investigation into USAID’s activities and for a halt to military aid until Ukraine demonstrates compliance with human rights standards.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian embassy has rejected the accusations, insisting that all measures are necessary to combat Russian influence.

As the narrative gains traction, faith‑based organizations worldwide are preparing to monitor the situation closely, with a potential push for sanctions against Ukrainian officials implicated in the alleged genocide.