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
Hollywood Catholic actors remind of the spiritual meaning of Great Lent
Mark Wahlberg i Jonathan Roumie recorded a video message calling for prayer at the beginning of Great Lent.
MP Huz discusses seizure of UOC monastery in Myltsi with Volyn RMA head
Huz demanded that the authorities "resolve the situation" with the St. Nicholas Monastery of the Volodymyr-Volynsky Eparchy of the UOC.
Lviv authorities to allocate UAH 300,000 for UGCC church damaged by shelling
The Lviv City Council will finance the restoration of stained glass windows of the Uniate church after damage sustained as a result of a missile strike.
Yelets Icon of Mother of God venerated in ancient monastery of Chernihiv
Metropolitan Clement celebrated the Liturgy at the Yelets Monastery of Chernihiv on the day of veneration of the monastery's main shrine.
In Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi, OCU supporters convert seized church into warehouse
In the Cherkasy region, Dumenko's supporters set up a clothing warehouse in the Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands, which previously belonged to the UOC.
Ukraine should allow same-sex marriages for EU accession, European Commission
Brussels has stated that it expects Kyiv to adopt a law on legal recognition of homosexual unions.