SSU serves suspicion notice to UOC priest in Odesa

On December 18, 2024, the Security Service of Ukraine in Odesa served a suspicion of committing a number of criminal offenses on a priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. According to the SBU, the priest, during his sermons and communication with believers, “praised Russian President Vladimir Putin” and “heroized the Russian military.” Also, as noted in the department, the clergyman “imposed his own intolerance on parishioners to representatives of other faiths” and “incited religious hatred.” This was reported by Suspilne.Odesa.

“A forensic linguistic examination initiated by the Security Service confirmed the facts of the archpriest’s information and subversive activities in favor of the Russian Federation. The man was served a notice of suspicion under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Part 1 of Article 161 — violation of equality of citizens based on their race, nationality, region, religious beliefs and other grounds, Part 1 of Article 436-2 — violation of equality of citizens based on their race, nationality, region, religious beliefs and other grounds, Part 1 of Article 436-2. 1 of Art. 436-2 — justification, recognition as lawful, denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, glorification of its participants. The cleric faces a fine of up to two years in prison,” — the statement said.

As reported earlier, the Security Service of Ukraine recently notified a number of bishops — members of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church — of suspicion in absentia. According to the agency, a large-scale evidence base was collected against four representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church episcopate, according to which they allegedly spread the “Kremlin regime” in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Among the “accused” is the head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Anthony (Sevriuk).