SBU serves suspicion to Met. Theodosiy for "fake" about raid in Cherkasy

Police handing a suspicion to Metropolitan Theodosiy. Photo: SBU tg-channel

The SBU announced on Telegram that it had served Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy "the fourth suspicion" under Article 161 (violation of citizens' equality based on their religious beliefs, committed by an official repeatedly).

The security forces claim to have "gathered new evidence of crimes committed by the head of the Cherkasy diocese of the UOC (MP)". "This is already the fourth episode of his subversive activities against Ukraine," the text said.

The SBU press service incriminates the UOC hierarch with "spreading among his parishioners a fake about the "seizure" of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos Convent in Cherkasy and the expulsion of church ministers from there."

The security officials also claim that Metropolitan Theodosiy "recorded destructive video appeals on the official page of the Cherkasy diocese of the UOC (MP) on Facebook" and "tried to discredit clergy of other denominations".

The SBU stated that they initiated semantic-linguistic and forensic-psychological expertise, which "confirmed the facts of criminal actions by the suspect".

The press service reported that "the issue of changing the preventive measure for the hierarch to a stricter one is being resolved."

"The investigation continues. The perpetrator faces up to 8 years in prison," wrote the SBU.

Recall that as a result of the forcible seizure of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos Convent on November 20, 2023, which the SBU called a "fake", supporters of the OCU in camouflage brutally beat clergy and parishioners of the UOC. In particular, Father Sergiy Pashchenko had his lower jaw broken, which subsequently required complex surgery, and 76-year-old parishioner Oleh Slobodianiuk had his leg broken. Following the beating, the police initiated 5 criminal cases.

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