UOC priest sentenced to 5 years for privately sending a video via messenger

Archpriest Yevhen Koshelnyk. Photo: Vinnytsia Eparchy website

The Vinnytsia Court of Appeals upheld the verdict against Archpriest Yevhen Koshelnyk, rector of two churches of the Vinnytsia Eparchy of the UOC, the court's press service announced. He will serve five years in prison "for distributing materials that justify Russian aggression against Ukraine."

According to the court, the priest’s guilt lies in the fact that he "sent videos via messenger to his acquaintances that, among other things, glorified a militant from the 'LPR' and referred to Russian aggression against Ukraine as an internal civil conflict."

The defendant and his lawyer filed an appeal requesting a modification of the sentence, proposing a three-year probation period. However, the Vinnytsia Court of Appeals rejected their petition.

During the hearing, the priest stated: "I have always acknowledged Russia's aggression and do not justify killings. I realize I was wrong. When I shared the video, I had no malicious intent and did not know at the time that my actions were illegal."

The prosecutor refuted some of the priest’s claims regarding his need for constant care of his sons and his mother, who resides in Kryzhopil. The prosecutor also clarified that the charitable aid mentioned by the defendant was delivered to the Sviatohirsk Lavra, which, according to the prosecution, cannot be considered a mitigating circumstance.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that a UOC priest of the Vinnytsia Eparchy was convicted for social media posts.

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