DESS expert: Phanar Exarch asked bail for Chernyshov under pressure from SBU

Bishop of Comana asks the court to grant bail for Chernyshov. Photo: court broadcast screenshot

Yuriy Chornomorets, a DESS expert and OCU theologian, made a high-profile statement about Michael (Anishchenko), an exarch of the Constantinople Patriarchate, who attempted in court to stand surety for former Vice Prime Minister Chernyshov, accused of massive multi-million corruption.

According to Chornomorets, the bishop’s unexpected conduct was initiated by SBU officers.

“This is an exarch – a human being. They put pressure on him, they ‘asked’ him ‘very strongly’… They simply pressured the man, Exarch Michael. Under coercion he went to court and said, essentially, that he could stand surety,” Chornomorets said.

According to the DESS expert, the OCU leadership knows perfectly well how the pressure on Bishop Mykhailo was applied: “I think they know perfectly well that it was the SBU that found what to press on – they ‘asked’ him, he came to court, he spoke.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that on November 18, 2025, the Phanar’s exarch said he was prepared to stand surety for the former vice prime minister accused of corruption.

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