Prosecutor General's Office announces new suspicion against former UOC hierarch

On November 14, 2024, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine published a new suspicion against the former head of the Izyum Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Yelisey (Ivanov). The bishop, who left Ukraine after the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war and ended up in Russia, is accused of supporting the occupation of Ukraine and justifying the Russian invasion. This is reported on the website of the department.

“O.O. Ivanov (Metropolitan Yelisey — Ed.) is suspected of justifying, recognizing the legitimacy of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which began in 2014, justifying, recognizing the legitimacy of the temporary occupation of parts of the territory of Ukraine,” — the text of the suspicion reads.

It is worth noting that the criminal prosecution of Metropolitan Yelisey began in 2022. Then, based on media reports, the bishop was accused of aiding and abetting the occupation of Ukraine. In this regard, the bishop was forced to leave the country and moved to Russia.