SBU - UN: No violence against the UOC in Ivano-Frankivsk region

A UOC priest who lost consciousness after an OCU launched a gas attack in Ivano-Frankivsk. Photo: UOJ

In response to the Joint Communication of UN Special Rapporteurs, the Security Service of Ukraine issued a statement, declaring the mentioned facts of violence against UOC believers in Ivano-Frankivsk as untrue. The SBU's statement is published on the UN website.

"No cases of violence commiqed against persons belonging to the UOC or discrimination on religious grounds were recorded in the territory of the Ivano-Frankivsk region. Disputes between religious opponents were resolved in court.," stated the SBU.

They explained that the UOC cathedral community in Ivano-Frankivsk had filed a lawsuit regarding the forgery of documents during a meeting purportedly on its behalf for the transfer to the OCU. In July 2022, the police initiated criminal proceedings based on a court decision. Still, after a comprehensive investigation, the case was closed due to the lack of evidence.

The SBU informed the UN that the OCU filed a lawsuit against the UOC community "under Articles 191 (misappropriation, embezzlement or conversion of property by malversation) and 366 (forgery of official documents) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine". There was initiated a pre-trial investigation, which is still ongoing.

Recall that the UN report stated, "On March 28, 2023, unknown individuals forcibly broke into the remaining UOC church in Ivano-Frankivsk. Tear gas was dispersed during the attack, believers and clergy were forcibly removed from the building."

Earlier, it was reported that radicals seized the UOC cathedral in Ivano-Frankivsk, using tear gas inside.

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