SBU reports suspicion of cleric in Kyiv-Zhytomyr Diocese of RCC

SBU officers during searches at the RCC cleric’s. Photo: t.me/SBUkr

SBU officers during searches at the RCC cleric’s. Photo: t.me/SBUkr

The Security Service of Ukraine has announced the suspicion of a Catholic priest of the Kyiv-Zhytomyr Diocese of the RCC, who denied the crimes of the Russians in Bucha.

The SBU Telegram channel said that the law enforcers had collected evidence that the rector of the parish of the Kyiv-Zhytomyr Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church was guilty of anti-Ukrainian activities.

The RCC priest publicly justified Russia's armed aggression and denied war crimes of the Russian invaders against Ukrainians.

According to law enforcers, in his "speeches" in front of believers, the priest called the facts of numerous murders and tortures of people by the Russians in Bucha "staged".

In addition, according to the SBU, he urged not to trust the official information of Ukrainian state institutions and mass media about war crimes committed by the aggressor and agitated to listen only to him because he was allegedly in the Kyiv region during the temporary occupation of part of the region.

"The defendant in the case has been notified of suspicion of Part 1 of Article 436-2 (justification, recognition as legitimate, denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, glorification of its participants) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine," the SBU noted.

The pre-trial investigation has been completed. The indictment has been sent to court.

The SBU stressed that "in its activities, it adheres to the principle of impartiality to the activities of any religious denomination and respects the right of every citizen to freedom of ideology and religion as defined by the constitution of Ukraine".

As earlier reported, the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Maliuk, said that "under the leadership of our President and Commander-in-Chief, we do our best and restore order".

Read also

Seizure in Chernivtsi overseen by Epifaniy's uncle, video

After the beating and expulsion of UOC priests from the Chernivtsi cathedral, Ivan Chokaliuk, the uncle of the head of the OCU, entered there together with the militants.

Sviatohirsk Lavra congratulates Metropolitan Arseniy on his 57th birthday

The abbot was wished strength of soul and body, heavenly consolation, the grace of God, and a swift release.

Another court hearing held in the case of Metropolitan Arseniy

The lawyers reminded the court that their client has been in custody for an extended period and, as a clergyman, is entitled to regular spiritual care.

DESS: Old Believers of ROC and ROCOR monastery are crucial for Ukraine

The State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) explained that for clergy to be exempted from mobilization, churches must not be affiliated with a foreign religious organization banned in Ukraine.

Hierarchs of Romania: All of Moldova belongs to the Romanian Patriarchate

The hierarchs believe that only the Romanian Church legally, canonically, and responsibly shepherds in Moldova.

Rivne region resident convicted for claiming OCU seizes churches

According to the court, a resident of the Rivne region made critical statements about the OCU and its leader Dumenko, and also engaged in “promoting the exclusivity of the UOC”.