The Security Service of Ukraine has completed an investigation and sent to court an indictment against the abbot of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, Pavlo (Petro Lebid), who is involved in subversive activities against Ukraine.

Following the SSU’s investigation, this metropolitan of moscow patriarchate’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church is charged under two Articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• 161.2 (violation of equality of citizens based on their religious beliefs, committed by an official repeatedly);
• 436-2.3 (justification, recognition as lawful, denial of russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, committed by an official repeatedly).

These crimes are punishable by up to 8 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The investigation established that the clergyman had repeatedly publicly denied the existence of Ukraine as a sovereign state.

He also referred to russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine as a ‘civil conflict’ that has been ongoing since 2014.

The SSU-initiated forensic linguistic examination confirmed the cleric’s criminal actions.

The investigation was carried out under the procedural supervision of Kyiv Region Prosecutor’s Office.

In its activities, the SSU adheres to the principle of impartiality to any religious denomination and respects the right of every citizen to freedom of worldview and religion, as defined by the Constitution of Ukraine.