Metropolitan Ionafan was given anti-Ukrainian leaflets - the hierarch's lawyers

During a session of the Vinnytsya city court in the case of Metropolitan Ionafan of Tulchyn and Bratslav (Yeletskyy), the UOC hierarch’s defence said that anti-Ukrainian leaflets had been planted during the search of Metropolitan Ionafan, the press service of the Tulchyn eparchy has said.

At the meeting, video footage of the search by Vinnytsya regional SSU and Police officers of two residential premises in the city of Bershad was viewed.

«As a result of viewing the video of the search, the defence unanimously stated that there are undoubtedly all signs of committing a group official crime: namely, planting of fabricated physical evidence (anti-Ukrainian leaflets) by employees of state investigative authorities, designed to compromise both Metropolitan Ionafan and to deliver an informational blow to the canonical UOC, an authoritative bishop of which he is for decades» — the diocese stated.

The next public hearing of the Vinnytsya city court is scheduled for 3 July 2023.