UOC sues MP Igor Guzya for inciting religious hatred

Lawyers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church have sent an official statement to the Prosecutor-General of Ukraine demanding a pre-trial investigation into MP Ihor Guzya. The reason for the request was the politician’s public statements, which the defense qualifies as deliberate incitement of religious enmity and hatred. This was reported by the lawyer of the UOC Archpriest Nikita Chekman in his Telegram-channel.

According to the lawyer of the UOC, the statement was filed by lawyers in the interests of Mykolaiv Miletsky monastery of the UOC in accordance with Article 214 of the CPC of Ukraine. The document indicates that the actions of the Deputy may fall under part. 2 Art. 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, concerning incitement of discord committed by an official.

The basis for the complaint was the rhetoric of Igor Guzya, associated with calls to «cleanse» the region from the UOC communities and the demand to stop the use of religious buildings by believers. According to the representatives of the Church, such statements in wartime conditions are destructive, as they split society, offend the feelings of millions of citizens and undermine the constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion.

The lawyers demand immediate entry of information into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations to start investigative actions and provide a proper legal assessment of the statements of the MP. The UOC also emphasized that according to the legislation, all religions are equal before the state, and any opposition of confessions leads to the escalation of conflicts within the country.

We will remind, earlier the people’s Deputy of Ukraine Igor Guz publicly threatened to evict the brethren from the ancient St. Nicholas Miletsky monastery of Volodymyr-Volyn diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Volyn. According to him, this is due to the completion of the lease of the monastery buildings and the intention to transfer the monastery to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The religious community, in turn, declares the legality of its stay and readiness to defend its rights in court.