The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) declared the suspicion to the abbot of the Cross and Ascension Cathedral in Uzhhorod. He is suspected of inciting religious hatred.
This was reported in the press service of the SBU.
In December 2022, the priest repeatedly publicly offended the religious feelings of Ukrainians who expressed a desire to celebrate Christmas on December 25.
Law enforcement officers documented more than seven cases when the priest humiliated the religious feelings of citizens of other faiths and tried to create hostile attitudes towards them. This was confirmed by a forensic linguistic examination.
The abbot was declared of the suspicion under Part 1 of Art. 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the equality of citizens depending on their racial, national, regional affiliation, religious beliefs and on other grounds).
The preventive measure has not been chosen yet — this issue is being resolved.
- At the end of November, the SBU conducted a series of searches in churches, monasteries and laurels of the UOC MP, in particular in Kyiv-Pechersk. On December 1, 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky informed that the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine instructed the government to submit to the Verkhovna Rada for consideration a draft law banning the activities of religious organizations affiliated with Russia in Ukraine.
- On December 9, a committee of the Verkhovna Rada recommended the adoption of a draft law prohibiting the activity of religious organizations affiliated with Russia in Ukraine.
- On February 1, 2023, the State Department confirmed that the UOC MP is subordinate to the Russian Orthodox Church.