Court of Appeal upholds 2-year prison sentence for UOC metropolitan

Metropolitan Anthony (Fialko). Photo: vsim.ua

The Khmelnytskyi Court of Appeal left unchanged the verdict against Metropolitan Anthony (Fialko) of Makariv, confirming the 2-year sentence of imprisonment, reports "Left Bank".

The judicial panel upheld both the primary sentence, replacing it with a two-year probationary period, and the additional restriction in the form of prohibition to hold leadership positions in religious administrations and eparchies for a period of two years. At the same time, the defense retains the right to appeal the verdict through cassation proceedings within three months.

Earlier, in May 2026, the Khmelnytskyi City District Court found the 79-year-old bishop guilty of "inciting religious hatred" and "restricting the rights of citizens on religious grounds". The grounds for opening the criminal case were published video recordings of a 2022 sermon calling to defend the church from supporters of transferring the community to the OCU.

During the court proceedings, Metropolitan Anthony did not plead guilty, explaining that due to the passage of time he does not remember all the circumstances of that church service, but emphasized that he had always called upon people for peace and harmony. In turn, a defense witness, the assistant to the rector of the church, confirmed in court that the bishop's words were directed exclusively at protecting the Church from the encroachments of offenders, and not against believers of other denominations.

As the UOJ reported, an expert found no incitement of hatred in Metropolitan Theodosiy's statements.

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