Mayor of Irpin involved in seizures of UOC churches in the city taken into custody in case of abuse of power

On January 24, 2025, the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv ruled to take into custody the mayor of Irpin, Oleksandr Markushyn, who was involved in organizing raider seizures of churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the city. Markushin is accused of exceeding his authority and going abroad for his own needs from August 24 to 30, 2022, using volunteer activities as a pretext. This was reported by Suspilne.Kyiv.

“I went abroad for a few days after the permission of the Kyiv Regional Administration, returned, brought two drones and saw my son. The regional police considered this case for two months and found nothing, while the SBI “drew” a suspicion in two days. I believe that the case against me is politicized and ordered by my opponents,” – Markushin said at the hearing.

For his part, the prosecutor in the case pointed out that Markushyn did not provide any documents confirming his volunteer activities abroad. The prosecution asked for a pre-trial restraint in the form of detention for 60 days or bail in the amount of UAH 40 million. The court imposed on Markushin a pre-trial restraint in the form of detention until March 22, 2025, with the possibility of posting bail of UAH 30 million. He was also suspended from work until that date.