Active opponent of UOC in Irpin again charged with corruption

Markushin (left) received an order from Dumenko for the "transfers" of UOC churches. Photo: OCU

Law enforcement officials have announced a new suspicion against Oleksandr Markushyn, the former mayor of Irpin, involved in a series of seizures of UOC temples in Irpin and other settlements in the Kyiv region.

According to the investigation, in 2019 Markushyn – then still the deputy mayor of Irpin – organized the illegal seizure of a communal land plot and a boiler house building located in the central part of Irpin. He has been notified of suspicion under Part 2, Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – abuse of power or official position.

Previously, a case concerning Markushyn’s trip abroad from August 24 to 30, 2022, was opened. The mayor of Irpin allegedly went to Italy to seek assistance for the military. However, according to the prosecutor, he did not provide any documents confirming volunteer activities abroad.

Markushyn is known for his active opposition to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and his involvement in the seizures of UOC temples in the Kyiv region. He organized fake “meetings” to transfer temples to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), gathering public sector employees and preventing real parishioners from entering. Under Markushyn, there is not a single UOC temple left in Irpin.

For this, the head of the OCU, Serhiy Dumenko, awarded Markushyn an order.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the mayor of Irpin, who was “transferring” temples to the OCU, was taken into custody.

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