In Volyn, a cleric of an unnamed denomination is suspected of receiving a bribe for assistance in evading mobilization

In Volyn, law enforcement agencies exposed a clergyman (the confession was concealed in the media — ed.) who allegedly received 10,000 US dollars as an undue benefit. For these funds he promised to «consecrate» a man subject to military service to become a deacon, which would allow him to receive a deferment from mobilization. For what he did, he faces up to eight years in prison. About it reports ZAXID.NET.

According to the investigation, the priest offered the man, subject to mobilization, to become a deacon of one of the local churches. This would provide him not only a deferment from the draft, but also exclusion from the register of «Oberig». In order to make the process of «ordination» look authentic, the clergyman recommended that he purchase a suitable vestment and study several biblical texts.

Part of the bribe in the amount of 80 thousand hryvnias was received on the bank card of the priest, and the remaining 8 thousand dollars was transferred in cash during a personal meeting. Law enforcers conducted authorized searches in the house and cars of the suspect, during which they found means of communication, bank cards and other material evidence confirming illegal activities.

The priest was declared a suspect under Part 3 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This article provides for liability for receiving an undue benefit for influencing officials, combined with extortion. The sanction of the article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to eight years with confiscation of property. Currently, the prosecutor’s office has sent a petition to the court to elect a measure of restraint for the suspect.

It is worth noting that although the news does not specify the denomination of the mentioned priest, however, it is safe to say that he does not belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Earlier we reported that the State Service of Ukraine for Ethno-politics and Freedom of Conscience published a list of criteria according to which religious figures can be granted deferment from mobilization. According to the said list, clergymen of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will not be able to be reserved from mobilization, as the UOC falls under the anti-church law No. 3894.

Accordingly, we are most likely talking about a representative of the PCU, the RCC or the UGCC, in the tradition of which there is a deacon rank and «ordination» to this rank.