SBU reports suspicion in absentia to former Metropolitan Elisei of Izium

Metropolitan Elisei. Photo: izum.church.ua

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has announced a suspicion against former Metropolitan Elisei of Izium and Kupiansk (secular name Oleg Ivanov), who is currently residing in the Russian Federation. This was reported by the press service of the SBU on its Telegram channel on 30 December 2024.

It is noted that the SBU and the National Police have gathered evidence of his subversive activities.

The SBU states that after the occupation of the Kharkiv region at the beginning of the full-scale war, Metropolitan Elisei was one of the first to publicly support the occupiers and bless them for war against Ukraine.

According to the case materials, the former Izium Metropolitan "imposed his pro-Kremlin views on his parishioners during his sermons and persuaded them to support the Russian invaders". The SBU also claims that "a forensic linguistic examination confirmed the facts of Ivanov's information-subversive activities in the Kremlin’s interests."

The former UOC metropolitan is suspected under Part 1 of Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (justification, recognition of the legitimacy or denial of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine, and glorification of its participants).

"Since the perpetrator is hiding in Russia, comprehensive measures are being taken to bring him to justice," the statement reads.

As reported by the UOJ, Metropolitan Elisei was removed from his position on 29 September 2022. After that, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry appointed a temporary administrator for the Izium Eparchy of the UOC. On 23 November 2022, the Holy Synod of the UOC appointed a new hierarch to the Izium See. On 27 November, the Primate consecrated Archimandrite Ioann (Ternovetsky) as Bishop of Izium.

Read also

Zelensky: Putin meddles in Ukraine’s church affairs, dictating baptism

The President of Ukraine recalled that Church and state are separate in Ukraine.