“According to the investigation, the cleric justified Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine and spread fakes on social networks”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
As the press service of the agency reports, it is about the archimandrite of one of the men’s monasteries in Kyiv.
According to the investigation, the cleric used social networks to justify Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine and spread fakes about the socio-political situation in the country.
The Security Service of Ukraine says that during searches of the suspect’s place of residence in the premises of the UOC (MP) monastery, evidence of criminal acts was found, but they do not specify what kind of evidence they are talking about.
Investigators of the Security Service informed the accused about the suspicion under part 2 of Art. 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (justification, recognition as legitimate, denial of armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, glorification of its participants). The investigation is ongoing.
On September 18, the publication LIGA.net, with reference to an interlocutor in law enforcement agencies, reported that searches were being conducted in the Holy Introduction Men’s Monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in Kyiv.
Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have repeatedly reported the detention or notification of suspicion to priests of the UOC (MP). According to the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Malyuk, as of the second half of April, criminal proceedings were opened against 61 clergymen of the UOC (MP), courts have already handed down seven verdicts against some clerics who “sided with the enemy.”
Starting in the fall of 2022, the SBU is actively conducting searches at UOC (MP) facilities throughout Ukraine. As a result of the investigative actions, among other things, the law enforcement officers found “a large number of anti-Ukrainian materials”, as well as documents confirming the presence of Russian citizenship in the leadership of diocesan structures.
At that time, the UOC (MP) urged “not to ignite an internal war”, stating that the accusations of collaborative activity against some priests are “unproven and groundless”.