In the course of security measures on the territory of Pochayiv Theological Seminary and Ivano-Frankivsk diocese of the moscow patriarchate’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the SSU and the National Police found a large number of anti-Ukrainian material.

In particular, the SSU found literature that denies the existence of the Ukrainian people, language and Ukraine’s right to statehood and emphasizes that it is an ‘artificially created state’.

The SSU also found brochures and books of xenophobic and hateful content with offensive fabrications regarding other nationalities and religions.

Most of the literature was written by russian authors and published by russian printing houses.

In addition, the SSU is investigating the origin of the samples of the ‘great Don army’ symbols found in one of the back rooms of Ivano-Frankivsk diocese. These are chevrons of this unlawful armed formation, which in 2014 helped ruscists to occupy part of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

All this material evidence is the basis for opening of two criminal proceedings under Article 161 of the CCU (violation of equality of citizens based on their race, nationality, region, religious beliefs, disability and other grounds). All items have been sent for relevant independent examinations.

Further procedural actions will be taken basing on the findings of these examinations.

We emphasize that 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.