The Security Service exposed another cleric of the Cherkasy Diocese of the UOC (MP) who openly justified Russian aggression. The offender faces up to 8 years in prison with confiscation of property.
This was reported by the SBU press service.
"This time, it is the rector of one of the churches of the Korsun-Shevchenkivske deanery, who justified Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine," the SBU said.
According to the investigation, the cleric distributed videos among the community members calling for them not to participate in the resistance to Russian aggression and to go abroad.
The rector also sent videos to local residents through popular messengers, in which he justified the war crimes of the occupiers and tried to discredit the top military and political leadership of Ukraine.
"In such a way, the offender undermined the socio-political situation in the region in favour of the aggressor country. The examination initiated by the Security Service confirmed the facts of the criminal actions of the representative of the UOC (MP)," the agency added.
Based on the evidence collected, he was served a notice of suspicion under Part 2 and Part 3 of Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (justification, recognition of the lawfulness, denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, glorification of its participants).
The investigation is ongoing. The offender faces up to 8 years in prison with confiscation of property.
In total, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia, clerics of the Cherkasy Diocese of the UOC (MP) have received 8 suspicions for publicly supporting the aggressor and spreading hostile propaganda.