Mage and OCU-campaigner Veliar becomes an SBU witness in Kokhanovska case

Mage Veliar campaigning for the OCU at Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. April 2023. Photo: UOJ

On March 5, 2025, the Holosiivskyi District Court of Kyiv held a hearing throughout the day in the case of Viktoria Kokhanovska. According to her Telegram channel, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) presented B. Orishchenko (known as Mage Veliar/Belial) as a witness, who had previously actively campaigned for the OCU near the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

"His testimony clearly differed from the actual events that took place near Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Therefore, a statement is being prepared requesting the initiation of criminal cases for knowingly false testimony and religious intolerance toward UOC believers (Articles 161 and 384 of the Criminal Code)," the message states.

Two years ago, Orishchenko, who calls himself "Mage Veliar" as well as an "author of magical books and cards, demonologist, and tantrist," openly campaigned for the OCU on Channel 5.

"We want this place (Lavra) to be under the canonical Ukrainian Church led Metropolitan Epifaniy," the magician stated. "And you are a non-canonical church."

At the time, other provocateurs who had come with Mage Veliar to the Far Caves carried a banner reading "They sell relics here." One of the activists, who seemed particularly fixated on the relics, wore clothing emblazoned with the word "OHUENO" (a slang expletive in Russian and Ukrainian).

Previously, the UOJ reported that the Ministry of Culture created a commission to inspect the holy relics in Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.

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