All Ukrainians are equal before SBU, but some are more equal
As is well known, all Ukrainians are equal before the law. Let’s see how this works in practice when it comes to church matters.
Three UOJ journalists are facing life imprisonment, including charges of "inciting interreligious hatred."
As evidence, they are accused of using words like "radicals," "raiders," "OCU members" and placing quotation marks around the clerical titles of OCU members. This is considered "incitement" – and nothing else.
Now, let’s consider one of countless examples from OCU representatives.
Roman Hryshchuk:
"The UOC are occupiers. A hybrid Putin army, sabotage groups, a propaganda machine with 100 generals, 9,000 officers, and 100,000 rank-and-file members… Their tasks are clear and effective: impose the enemy’s narratives, gather and transmit intelligence, identify and compile lists of patriots, sow despair and doubt about the need to resist the occupation."
Does Hryshchuk provide a single piece of evidence for such serious accusations? Of course not. It is pure falsehood and slander. Moreover, it is a self-serving lie, aimed at furthering his own interests.
Hryshchuk is the leader of a group of itinerant activists from Bukovyna, whose purpose is to "transfer" UOC churches to the OCU – essentially stoking conflict in the region. With statements like this, Hryshchuk is preparing the ground for future takeovers, "correctly" influencing those unfamiliar with church matters.
A person listens to a "respected priest," believes him, and then goes to storm a church belonging to "occupiers" and "saboteurs." And just like that –another hotspot of conflict emerges in the country. Is this good for Ukraine or bad? Basic logic suggests it is bad. But at the SBU, it seems they think otherwise.
Because Hryshchuk faces no consequences. So what if he labels 5-6 million people as enemies? So what if he once again pits Ukrainians against each other? (By the way, comments on Hryshchuk’s Facebook page suggest he does this for money.) No, there are no accusations against him.
But there will be accusations against the UOJ when we report on Hryshchuk’s next "heroic" act and those of his associates.
And this is today’s reality of equality before the law in Ukraine.
