"Monitoring" group working at children’s home overseen by Metropolitan Longin

Head of the State Service for Children Oksana Symak. Photo: a screenshot from C4 video

A commission arrived at the Ascension Monastery of Bancheny (UOC) for the "monitoring" of the children's home. This was reported in a comment to C4 by the head of the State Service for Children, Oksana Symak.

According to her, "this is not an inspection" but rather "the monitoring group is working due to the resonance of the situation".

Symak noted that the "monitoring" also involves representatives from the Ombudsman’s Office, psychologists, and police officers.

“Given the resonance of this situation, we must take a serious and thorough look at whether there is any threat to the children’s life and health,” the official stated.

She reported that members of the commission had spoken with both girls and boys, and that psychologists are now working with them.

Symak has not yet provided any definitive conclusions: "I cannot give any assessments yet because the entire group is still working. When we receive conclusions from each area, then we can make a general assessment of the situation."

The head of the State Service for Children added that the monastery provides her with all the necessary documents.

It should be noted that the reason for the “monitoring” was a video published by Bukovynian blogger Edgar Kalancha, in which he spread false claims about the orphans under the care of Metropolitan Longin and his monastery.

Although Kalancha began his “investigation” with a disclaimer stating, “All references to individuals, events, or organizations are fictional or interpreted from open sources in the form of satire, hypothesis, or artistic assumption,” the authorities nonetheless decided to inspect the children’s home.

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