UOC hierarch, sentenced to 5 years in prison, released from custody

The 75-year-old hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan of Tulchyn and Bratslav, Metropolitan Jonathan (Yeletskykh), who was sentenced to five years in prison, has been released from custody. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia personally petitioned for the release of the bishop. About it reports the site Patriarchy.ru.

«On June 22, 2024 at the request of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, as a result of the negotiations conducted, Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchin and Bratslav was released. While the appeal was pending, Metropolitan Jonathan was under house arrest. On March 19, 2024 it became known that Metropolitan of Tulchyn and Bratslav Jonathan had a stroke and was hospitalized. On June 18, 2024 the Vinnytsia Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the court of first instance. Metropolitan Jonathan did not plead guilty to the charges brought against him. Earlier, the vladyka was also deprived of Ukrainian citizenship. In the near future, the hierarch, who is in dire need of treatment and medical rehabilitation, will arrive in Moscow,» — the statement said.

We shall remind you that earlier we reported that Metropolitan of Tulchyn and Bratslav Ionafan (Yeletskikh) refused the prisoner-of-war exchange and was ready to serve a full prison sentence.