Employees of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the National Police found a large number of anti-Ukrainian materials during security measures on the territory of the Pochayiv Theological Seminary and the Ivano-Frankivsk Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) of the Moscow Patriarchate (MP).
In particular, the SBU found literature that denies the existence of the Ukrainian people, its language, as well as the very right of Ukraine to statehood. The texts also, on the contrary, emphasize that it is an allegedly artificially created state, the Security Service of Ukraine said.
The SBU also found brochures and books of xenophobic and hateful content with offensive allegations about other nationalities and religions.
Most of the literature is by Russian authors and published in Russian printing houses.
"In addition, the SBU is investigating the origin of the samples of the "Great Don Army" symbols, which were found in one of the back rooms of the Ivano-Frankivsk Diocese of the UOC (MP). In particular, we are talking about the chevrons of this illegal armed group, which in 2014 helped the Russian troops to occupy part of Donetsk and Luhansk regions," the SBU noted.
The found evidence is the basis for opening two criminal proceedings under Article 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, all of them are sent for appropriate independent examinations.
Based on the results of these investigations, further procedural actions will follow.
The SBU emphasized that it adheres to the principle of impartiality to the activities of any religious denomination and respects the right of every citizen to freedom of worldview and religion, as defined by the Constitution of Ukraine.