OPTIMIZATION OF STATE-CONFESSIONAL RELATIONS IN UKRAINE: HISTORICAL TRANSFORMATIONS AND CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the optimization of state-religious relations in Ukraine against the backdrop of historical transformations and contemporary challenges. It analyzes the evolution of state institutions responsible for regulating religious relations, starting from the adoption of the Law of Ukraine “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations”. Various stages of administrative reforms are examined, including the creation and reorganization of the State Committee on Religious Affairs, the Department of Religious Affairs under the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, and the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience. The main issues in integrating religious policy functions into broader ministries are identified, such as dual accountability, bureaucratization of the registration processes for religious organizations, and the dispersion of specialized personnel. Recommendations are proposed for creating more effective management mechanisms to counter urgent external threats and potential optimization. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of balancing state control with the autonomy of religious communities to ensure the rights and freedoms of all religious groups in a democratic society. The role of State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience in current conditions and the unresolved issues that require further improvement of legislation and administrative structures are highlighted.