Сourt denies SBU a preventive measure against Archpriest Viktor Zemlianoy

The court did not impose pre-trial restrictions on Archpriest Viktor Zemlianoy, finding his arguments more convincing.

Today, on March 28, 2019, the Rovno City Court denied the prosecutor and investigator of the SBU a preventive measure against Archpriest Viktor Zemlianoy, the head of the Department for Settlement of Interfaith Disputes at the Rovno Eparchy of the UOC, who is being accused of inciting inter-faith hatred.

That was the third attempt to hold court hearings: previously it had been postponed three times for unknown reasons, and if it hadn’t been held by the end of this week (according to the deadlines set by the procedure), then the matter would simply be closed.

“The investigator provided his materials that I can put pressure on witnesses or go abroad,” said Father Viktor in his comment for the UOJ. “I provided my arguments that I have never done and will not do this. He provided various thanks, letters, petitions from different persons, and the judge (investigating judge K. Orekhovskaya – Ed.) considered that my arguments were stronger. The decision a preventive measure is final and cannot be appealed.”

We recall that criminal proceedings against Archpriest Viktor Zemlianoy were initiated under Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine "Violation of citizens' equality based on their race, nationality or religious preferences" on the basis of statements filed in the Security service of Ukraine (SBU). It is known that their authors are high-ranking representatives of the former UOC KP, who wrote several identical statements on the same day. The names of the applicants are known, but they and other details have not yet been disclosed in the interests of the investigation.

Father Viktor is accused of the distribution of church literature and the use of the word “schismatics” towards representatives of non-canonical church structures. Also, the archpriest is being charged under Art. 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine "High treason" because of the interview with the Russian media.

“We ask to bring the case to court as soon as possible, but the SBU delays this process in order to continue exerting pressure on me and all the priests so that they do not protect their churches from raider seizures, which are now taking place in the Rovno region,” the head of the Department for Settlement of Interfaith Disputes at the Rovno Eparchy of the UOC. “They ask me to plead guilty of something, promise to give me a fine, but I have nothing to plead guilty of since I did not commit any criminal offences, especially under Article 161. I’ve never incited any hostility, always acted within the framework of canon law, calling dissenters schismatics – I am accused of this, incitement of hostility is seen in this. I have never done this and acted within the framework of canon law, the civil procedure code of Ukraine and the laws of conscience.”

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