During the full-scale Russian invasion, based on materials from the SBU, 68 criminal proceedings were initiated against representatives of the UOC-MP, of which 14 were metropolitans of the church.
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The SBU press center reported this today, October 4.
It is noted that among the exposed crimes:
- 20 facts of treason, collaboration and complicity with the aggressor country;
- 18 proceedings for public propaganda of religious hatred, as well as the sale of firearms and the distribution of child pornography.
As a result of operational and investigative actions, 26 defendants-representatives of the UOC (MP) were informed of the suspicion, and another 19 attackers have already received court sentences, the SBU emphasizes.
The SBU notes that two convicted clergy collaborators were exchanged for Ukrainian soldiers who were captured by the Reshists. This is about:
- the rector of the St. Tikhvin Church of the Severodonetsk Diocese of the UOC-MP, who in April 2022 “surrendered” resistance members on the territory of the community to the Russian occupiers. On his “tip,” the invaders kidnapped the victims and imprisoned them in Russian dungeons. The collaborator was sentenced to 12 years in prison, and later he, along with captured Russian military personnel, was exchanged for 63 Ukrainian defenders;
- cleric of the Gorlovka diocese of the UOC-MP, who, after the capture of Liman, organized a meeting of community residents to elect the leadership of the local occupation administration. He was sentenced to seven years in prison, and was subsequently exchanged for Ukrainian defenders who were captured by the Russians.
In addition, the manager of the Tulchin diocese of the UOC (MP) in the Vinnitsa region was sentenced to 5 years in prison. The attacker propagated Russia’s armed aggression among parishioners and justified the temporary occupation of part of the territory of Ukraine, the SBU notes.
The SBU also reports that the Ukrainian citizenship of 19 representatives of the UOC-MP, who have Russian passports and disseminated pro-Kremlin narratives about the war in Ukraine, has been revoked. Among them are metropolitans from the Kyiv, Dnepropetrovsk and Odessa regions, as well as from the temporarily occupied Crimea.
Also, according to SBU materials, more than 177 clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church, including the former Metropolitan of Romny and Burinsky UOC (MP) in the Sumy region, are prohibited from entering Ukraine, the security service notes.
The SBU notes that, based on the exposed facts, comprehensive measures are ongoing to identify all persons involved in subversive activities in the religious environment of Ukraine during the war, and note that they respect the rights of every citizen to freedom of choice of religion and worldview.
But not a single enemy henchman or criminal element will be able to hide behind a cassock from justice for crimes against Ukraine, the SBU adds.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.