“Promoted the narratives of the Kremlin and was a “curator” of the Russian Orthodox Church: the State Bureau of Investigation informed about the suspicion of the former People’s Deputy Vadym Novinsky — NV sources January 18, 13:02 Share: Former People’s Deputy Vadym Novinsky (Photo: Vadym Novinsky/Facebook) The State Bureau of Investigation in cooperation with the SBU reported the suspicion in treason to the so-called “curator” of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) in Ukraine, ex-national to Vadym Novinskyi, deputy of the pro-Russian party Opposition Bloc, NV sources inform”, — write on: ua.news
Former People’s Deputy Vadym Novinskyi (Photo: Vadym Novinskyi/Facebook)
The State Bureau of Investigation, in cooperation with the SBU, was informed of the suspicion of treason against the so-called “curator” of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) in Ukraine, ex-people’s deputy of the pro-Russian party Opposition Bloc Vadym Novinskyi, NV sources reported on Saturday, January 18.
The SBU and the SBU confirmed the information, without directly specifying the name of the former deputy.
According to the investigation, since the beginning of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine in 2014, he promoted Russian narratives through interviews in the mass media, public speeches, as well as in posts on his own website and in social networks. The deputy tried to create anti-government and pro-Russian sentiments in Ukrainian society, to justify Russian aggression, the SBI notes.
In addition, according to law enforcement officers, Novinsky was following the instructions of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev), for a long time maintained close communication with him and was in his hierarchical subordinate, that is, he was the so-called “curator” of the Russian Orthodox Church and, in fact, a representative of a foreign religious organization in Ukraine.
After the start of the full-scale invasion, Novinsky surrendered his credentials and is currently in hiding abroad, however “continues to exercise informational influence to the detriment of the sovereignty of Ukraine, its state and informational security,” the State Bureau of Investigation indicates.
Forensic psychological and linguistic examinations confirmed the facts of the people’s deputy’s criminal activity in the interests of the aggressor country. He was informed in absentia about suspicion of treason (h 1 Art. 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and violations of the equality of citizens depending (h 2 Art. 161). Novinsky faces up to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property.
Vadym Novynskyi completed his mandate as a People’s Deputy of Ukraine in July 2022. On January 24, 2023, it was added to the sanctions list of Ukraine. In 2023, property of Novinsky, who is also the founder of the financial and industrial group Smart-Holding, was seized in Ukraine.