"I know him as a good man": Phanar's exarch in Ukraine explains his desire to bail out Alexei Chernyshov, who is on trial for corruption

on November 18, 2025, the Exarch of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in Ukraine, Bishop Mikhail Anishchenko, made an unexpected proposal to bail out former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, who is the main suspect in the corruption and illicit enrichment case. The initiative was made during a court hearing on the choice of a preventive measure, where the prosecutor’s office requested that Chernyshov be held in custody with an alternative bail of UAH 55 million.

According to LB.ua, Bishop Mykhailo explained that he had been asked by Mr. Chernyshov’s assistants to provide a guarantee. He emphasized that he has no personal interest in the case, is outside the political context and knows the ex-minister as a «good man» from his time in the government. The exarch also added that the Patriarchate of Constantinople (Phanar) was not aware of his initiative.

The current investigation, in which he is suspected, concerns corruption at Energoatom. According to the investigation, Oleksiy Chernyshov used the services of the so-called «laundry room» — an underground financial office located in Andriy Derkach’s apartment. In the case file, in particular, on the Mindich tapes, Chernyshov allegedly appeared under the pseudonym «Che Guevara». Law enforcers documented the transfer of cash worth more than USD 1.2 million and almost EUR 100 thousand to the suspect and his proxy.

It should be noted that this is not the only criminal proceeding against the former official. Oleksiy Chernyshov is already a suspect in the case of receiving undue advantage from a developer, where he is being held on bail of UAH 120 million. The current case was opened under Article 368-5 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illicit enrichment).

Earlier, it became known that the Security Service of Ukraine is investigating a large-scale scheme to facilitate mobilization evasion organized by representatives of the clergy of one of the dioceses of the OCU. According to the investigation, the head of the Uzhhorod-Khust Diocese of the OCU, Kirill Mikhailuk,set up a mechanism for issuing fictitious certificates of ordination to men liable for military service for a monetary reward, which allowed them to avoid conscription.