Earlier, we reported that information appeared in the media about the cruel treatment of children in the orphanage at the Banchen Monastery of the Chernivtsi-Bukovina Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is maintained by the hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Longin (Zhar) of Banchen. The bishop himself considers what is happening to be part of an anti-church campaign by the state authorities and an attempt to put pressure on him.
The Office of the Ombudsman of Ukraine continues to exert pressure on the orphanage at the Banchensky Monastery of the UOC
The Office of the Ombudsman of Ukraine, social services, the National Police, the Chernivtsi Regional State Administration’s Children’s Services, and other state institutions are conducting inspections of the children’s home at the Holy Ascension Banchen Monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. It is reported that the state has created a special commission to investigate possible cases of “child abuse,” which has been tasked with investigating this issue. This was reported by Espreso.
“The Secretariat of the Commissioner has sent requests to the National Social Service of Ukraine, the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Chernivtsi region, and the Children’s Services Department of the Chernivtsi Regional Military Administration with a request within their competence, to take measures to conduct a comprehensive, complete, and impartial investigation of all circumstances and to promote the protection of the rights and interests of children. In response to the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Chernivtsi region regarding the improper and cruel treatment of children at the Holy Ascension Banchensky Monastery, located in the Chernivtsi region, it is reported that information on this fact has been entered into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations,” – said Tetyana Shelest, Director of the Department of Information Policy, Communication, and Protocol.
According to the representative of the Regional State Administration, the investigation being conducted by the state into the Banchensky Monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is being conducted as impartially as possible.
“In its response, the Children’s Services Department of the Chernivtsi Regional Military Administration announced the creation of a temporary commission to monitor the conditions of detention, education, and upbringing of orphans and children deprived of parental care who are under the guardianship/care of Zhara M.V. Currently, a practical psychologist, social worker, and community police officer are working with the children. These entities are conducting a comprehensive investigation. At the same time, I would like to inform you that the issue of children’s rights, given the reports of possible inappropriate and cruel treatment of them at the Holy Ascension Banchensky Monastery, is being monitored by the Commissioner,” – Shelest added.
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