Pro-Moscow Orthodox cleric to serve prison term for anti-Ukrainian activities

A court in Ukraine’s Vinnytsia region sentenced the head of the Tulchyn Diocese with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)  to five years in prison.

That’s according to the Security Service of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

The inquiry learned that the priest had been circulating propaganda leaflets among the faithful, calling for government toppling and altering the country’s borders. On one of the websites of the Russian Orthodox Church, he had been posting messages in support of Russian invaders and their war crimes.

Forensic examination of the evidence seized during the searches (pro-Kremlin propaganda and literature) confirmed the facts of the metropolitan's illegal activity.

The court found the cleric guilty of the crimes under four articles of the Criminal Code, including the encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine and justification, recognition as legitimate, or denial of Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, a former monk from the Pochaiv Assumption Lavra was sentenced to five years for justifying Russia’s armed aggression.

Photo: SBU