SBU detains OCU cleric who organized draft evader's escape for money

The SBU detained an OCU cleric who organized a border crossing for a draft evader for money. Photo: SBU in the Transcarpathian region

The Security Service of Ukraine, together with the National Police, the Prosecutor's Office and border guards, detained in Transcarpathia a cleric of the OCU who had organized the smuggling of a person liable for military service across the border into Slovakia for $15,000.

According to the investigation, 59-year-old OCU "archimandrite" Antoniy Khvyts personally looked for clients and plotted routes for them bypassing checkpoints. To pass unhindered through stationary roadblocks, the cleric used his church status.

Khvyts met a Kyiv resident at the railway station and drove him toward Velykyi Bereznyi, receiving $15,000 for his services. On the outskirts of the village of Strychava, the cleric dropped the evader off and pointed out the direction to take through the forest. That same night, border guards detained the fugitive near the village of Zabrid in the Uzhhorod district.

After the first failed attempt, Khvyts organized a second border crossing for an additional $1,100. During the second attempt, the cleric was detained. A search turned up cash and cannabis, which was sent for examination.

The court remanded the OCU "archimandrite" in custody. For organizing the illegal smuggling of persons across the state border for mercenary motives (Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), the OCU cleric faces 7 to 9 years in prison with confiscation of property.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the OCU "sold" the rank of deacon to a security guard to evade mobilization.

Read also