UOC believer tried in Rivne for "offending" OCU
Court. Photo: astana.sud.kz
A court hearing was held in Volodymyrets, Rivne Oblast, against Ihor Kots, a parishioner of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), who was accused of offending OCU believers.
According to the verdict of the Volodymyrets District Court, on September 2, 2024, Ihor Kots posted comments in a Facebook group regarding the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) that the court deemed offensive.
The court ruling stated that his remarks were allegedly aimed at inciting religious hatred and offending citizens' religious beliefs.
Specifically, the court found that his comments contained derogatory characterizations of OCU parishioners and promoted the exclusivity of the UOC.
His actions were classified under Part 1 of Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – violation of citizens’ equality based on race, nationality, or religious affiliation.
The defendant pleaded guilty and entered into a plea agreement with the prosecutor. Judge Olena Ivankiv approved the agreement and sentenced Ihor Kots to a fine of 3,400 hryvnias without deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in specific activities.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that on December 10, 2022, the "Kvartal 95" show aired a blasphemous program about the UOC, which included calls for violence against UOC clergy and believers.
Read also
OCU activist admits breaking into UOC church in Sloviansk
Oleksandr Onyshchenko said that the OCU held its first "service" at the Seraphim Church, which had previously been broken into by forcing the locks and doors.
Archimandrite Ioustinos, longtime keeper of Jacob's Well, dies in Jordan
Archimandrite Ioustinos (Mamallos), the keeper of Jacob's Well in Nablus, has died after a prolonged illness.
Pilgrim group from Kyiv Theological Seminary visits Mount Athos
KTS students are making a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Romania, Greece, Mount Athos and Italy.
UOC cathedral celebrates its patronal feast in Ternopil
The service in the cathedral of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia was led by Metropolitan Serhii of Ternopil, concelebrated by four hierarchs.
MinCulture marks centenary of Soviet-era reserve at Lavra's Refectory Church
Representatives of the Ministry of Culture presented awards to the Reserve's employees on the occasion of the anniversary at the Refectory Church of the Lavra.
Conference to mark 1700th anniversary of Christianity adoption held in Georgia
In Georgia, representatives of the Church and the state noted the defining role of Christianity in the country's cultural development.