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Open Letter to His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all of Russia Kirill, the Blessed Metropolitan Vladimir, and to the Ukrainian and international community.

Your Holiness,

With great respect we appeal to Your Holiness on behalf of the community of people living with HIV (further – PLWH) in Ukraine.
As you know, on 7 July, 2010 PLWH community held a picketing of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in regard to the decision concerning eviction of the clinic for HIV-positive people from the premises, situated near the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The above mentioned action had a wide resonance in the media and provoked comments from clergymen. The main attention of the press was on the statements f the Father Superior of the Holy Assumption Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Paul addressing HIV-positive people: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWgnYpjp6MU&feature=player_embedded
Quotes: "Would you like to have a disorderly house on your porch, near your home " and "For me, it is unpleasant to live next to someone, who sinned all his life, got all the diseases one can get, whereas I pray, I ask God for forgiveness ... And for this someone can "reward" me with some disease right here, on the territory”.
We are anxious about the statements taking into consideration the long-term and fruitful cooperation between All-Ukrainian Network of people living with HIV/AIDS (further – Network of PLWH) and the Orthodox Church.
Particularly, in December 2009 All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Network of PLWHA held a joint conference "Positive Faith – Partnership Development”, which laid the foundation for open dialogue and understanding between our organizations. The outcomes of the conference were affirmed by a resolution based on fundamental principles of the Christian morality: tolerance, love to one’s neighbour, compassion and provision of help to the sick.
In March 2010 members of the Network of PLWH were representing the world community of PLWH at the International Summit of the High Level Religious Leaders for responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, during which religious leaders of the world religions signed a commitment of their devotion to fighting HIV. The commitment ends with a call to strengthen joint efforts for overcoming the epidemics which should lead to a new world – a world of mutual respect, fairness, love and dignity for each inhabitant of the planet.
We honestly hope for support and blessing of Your Holiness of the further actions directed to overcoming epidemics and are expecting that the real position of the Orthodox Church concerning HIV-positive people will be delivered to the wide public and all representatives of the church.

Community of HIV-positive people of Ukraine