Court remands rector of UOC cathedral in Uzhhorod

Rector of the UOC Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Uzhhorod, Archpriest Dimitriy Sydor. Photo: a video screenshot of the cathedral's Telegram channel

The Uzhhorod City District Court has imposed a measure of restraint in the form of personal obligation on the rector of the Holy Cross Cathedral (UOC), Archpriest Dimitri Sydor, who is accused of "inciting religious hatred". A video of the court hearing was published on the cathedral's Facebook page.

According to the court decision, the priest is forbidden to leave the city and communicate with witnesses in his case, he must surrender his foreign passport, report changes of residence and employment and appear before an investigator, prosecutor and court upon first request.

The preventive measure will remain in force until May 13, 2023.

As reported, in the middle of March, the police reported that Archpriest Dimitri Sydor was suspected of committing a crime under Part 1 Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (inciting religious hatred and enmity, insulting the feelings of citizens in connection with their religious beliefs). The priest is charged with a number of his sermons in defence of canonical Orthodoxy and with criticizing the actions of the authorities in the religious field.

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