The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has established new facts of illegal activities by the head of one of the dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) in Vinnytsya Region, who was served a notice of suspicion the day before.
"It was established that the head of the diocese prepared propaganda leaflets in which he justified the armed aggression of the Russian Federation and the temporary occupation of the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine. In addition, in his 'leaflets' he called for the seizure of state power and violation of the borders of our country," the SBU press service said.
He kept the mass-produced pro-Kremlin materials in the back rooms of the church and planned to organize their distribution among local residents through the diocesan office.
"An independent examination initiated by the SBU confirmed the illegal activities against the state security of Ukraine. Thus, the SBU investigators served the suspect with a notice of suspicion under:
- Part 3 of Article 436-2 (justification, recognition as lawful, denial of the armed aggression of Russia against Ukraine),
- Part 2 of Article 109 (distribution of materials calling for violent change of the constitutional order),
- Part 1 of Article 110 (distribution of materials calling for changes in the borders of the territory and state border of Ukraine) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine," the SBU said.
The pre-trial investigation continues.
Apparently, the man in question is Metropolitan Ionafan of Tulchyn and Bratslav, whose house was previously searched, as a result of which he was declared a suspect under Part 2 of Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of equality of citizens based on their racial, national, regional affiliation, religious beliefs, disability and other grounds).