SBU searches Metropolitan Pimen’s residence, media report

Metropolitan Pimen (Voyat). Photo: Rivne Eparchy

Officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted searches at the premises of Metropolitan Pimen of Rivne and Ostroh in a criminal case on state treason, the grounds for which was a church service in the Holy Land, reports sources of the Telegram channel "First Cossack"

The security forces justified the investigative actions with proceedings under Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (state treason). At the same time, within the framework of these proceedings, the hierarch was granted the procedural status of a witness.

The Telegram channel "First Cossack" claims that the formal grounds for opening the criminal case was the performance by Bishop Pimen and the clergy of a church service at the Gorny Monastery in the Holy Land, which is under the jurisdiction of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem.

According to sources, the investigative measures were completed fairly quickly. The security service officers behaved politely and acted without excessive zeal.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that a deputy called on the SBU to take action against UOC believers in Kamin-Kashyrskyi.

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