Rector who led expertise against UOC bishop accused of financial fraud

Ex-rector of the DNU Roman Hryniuk.

The former rector of the Donetsk National University (since 2014 located in Vinnytsia) Roman Hryniuk, who at the request of the Vinnytsia SBU conducted a linguistic expertise of Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchyn’s publications, is accused of financial fraud of UAH 12 million, reports the eparchy’s website.

" In the Vinnytsia court, maps of the territory of the Kyiv Metropolis of the 17th century, which was under the subordination of Constantinople within the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and had no access to the Black Sea, were interpreted as signs of Metropolitan Jonathan’s ‘guilt’ in spreading "pro-Russian ideas of separatism" on the territory of modern Ukraine, ignoring the commentary of the Metropolitan's text by the Academic Council of the Kyiv Academy and Seminary. The use of the ancient patrological term 'schism' (schisma) regarding the status of the OCU was unprofessionally considered by experts from the SBU as incitement of religious discord," reports the eparchy.

In February 2022, "experts" led by Hryniuk said that "the linguistic analysis of the mentioned information materials indicates the presence of verbally expressed signs of encroachment on the territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as information that creates a favourable basis for the spread of pro-Russian, separatist ideas and incitement of inter-religious discord."

According to a statement by the State Audit Service of Ukraine, Roman Hryniuk issued additional allowances and bonuses to himself and also practised the misappropriation of funds received from fee-paying students.

As reported, Metropolitan Jonathan was sentenced to five years in prison.

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