The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) exposed the head of one of the dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) of the Moscow Patriarchate (MP) in Vinnytsya Region, who justified the aggression of the Russian Federation and incited sectarian hatred among believers, the press service of the SBU reports.
"As part of the work to neutralize threats to state security, the investigation found that even after the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the occupation troops in Ukraine, the clergyman supported the Kremlin's policy and approved the actions of the Russian Federation," the Security Service noted.
They reported that the Metropolitan posted publications on his own Internet resource containing calls to incite sectarian hatred. The examination initiated by the SBU confirmed the illegal nature of the offender's actions.
"In the framework of criminal proceedings under Art. 161 (violation of equality of citizens based on their racial, national, religious affiliation, religious beliefs, disability and other grounds) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the issue of serving the suspect a notice of suspicion is being considered," - the Security Service of Ukraine said.
The operation was conducted by the SBU Office in Vinnytsya Region jointly with the National Police investigators under the procedural supervision of the Regional Prosecutor's Office.
Apparently, the matter concerns Metropolitan Ionafan of Truskavets and Bratslav of the UOC, whose house was searched by the Security Service of Ukraine yesterday.