The SBU has put on the wanted list an Orthodox journalist who starred in a movie about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

An Orthodox journalist and public figure from Ivano-Frankivsk Region, Ruslan Kalynchuk, who used to work in the mass media defending the interests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, has been put on the wanted list by the Security Service of Ukraine. He is suspected of «committing a number of serious crimes» after participating in the making of a movie about the persecution of believers in Ukraine, «People of Christ — Our Time,» which involved Serbian director Emir Kusturica.

According to the publication Versii.if.ua, information about the search appeared on the official website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. According to the published data, Kalinchuk is wanted at the request of the SBU on suspicion of committing crimes under Articles 161 part 3, 255 part. 2 and 111-1 part. 6 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of equal rights of citizens, participation in a criminal organization and collaboration activities).

The reason for the persecution was the priest’s participation in the movie «People of Christ — Our Time», which recently premiered in Serbia. The movie tells about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Famous Serbian director Emir Kusturica participated in the making of the movie, and Serbian Patriarch Porphyrius attended the premiere.

The creators of the movie stated that their goal is «to make people realize what is really happening to the Orthodox Church in Kiev and all over Ukraine and what tortures its clergy are going through.» In addition to Ruslan Kalinchuk, who hails from Nadvornyanskiy district, a priest from Kiev, Mykola Mohylny, also took part in the movie.

Currently, according to the source, Ruslan Kalinchuk works for the Russian Orthodox radio station Radonezh, where he acts as a political expert and Orthodox missionary.

We shall remind you that the Ivano-Frankivsk city court sentenced in absentia the priest of the Russian Orthodox Church, Vladyslav Beregovy, to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property. He was found guilty of encroaching on the territorial integrity of Ukraine and organizing fundraising for the armed forces of the Russian Federation.