The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) served a notice of suspicion to the head of one of the dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) of Moscow Patriarchate in Vinnytsya Region, the press service of the SBU reports.
"According to the findings of an independent examination initiated by the SBU, the Metropolitan committed deliberate actions aimed at inciting religious hatred and insulting the feelings of citizens in connection with their religious beliefs. The relevant materials, in particular, were posted on the priest's personal website," the Security Service reported.
The notice of suspicion was issued under Part 2 of Art. 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of equality of citizens based on their race, nationality, region, religious beliefs, disability and other grounds).
"Currently, a full range of investigative and operational measures are being taken to investigate and examine other facts of the Metropolitan's activities. The measures were carried out by officers of the SBU Office in Vinnytsya Region under the procedural guidance of the Vinnytsya Regional Prosecutor's Office," the statement reads.
The SBU does not name the metropolitan. According to LB.ua, it is Metropolitan Ionafan of Tulchyn and Bratslav, whose house was searched earlier.
