The SSU has established new facts of unlawful activity of the head of Cherkasy diocese of moscow patriarchate’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church. While under house arrest for previous offences, he continued to publicly incite religious hatred.

Earlier this year, the metropolitan was notified of suspicion for denying russia’s armed aggression and spreading calls for interfaith hatred.

The court then imposed a measure of restraint on him in the form of house arrest and proceeded to consider the case on the merits.

However, this did not stop the cleric, and at home he began to record provocative videos repeating the kremlin’s narratives on religious communities in Ukraine.

According to the investigation, in his ‘appeals’ the suspect spoke disparagingly about believers and clergy of other faiths.

He also tried to discredit Ukrainian law enforcement officers who conducted security measures in the local religious communities.

After recording the propaganda videos, the author, wearing a cassock, disseminated the destructive content on the YouTube channel of the UOC-MP Cherkasy diocese website.

In this way, the metropolitan acted for the benefit of the aggressor state and tried to destabilise the socio-political situation in the region.

The SSU-initiated examinations confirmed the facts of the cleric’s criminal actions.

During the searches at the suspect’s home, the SSU found:

• his provocative video;
• computer equipment and a mobile phone used to record and disseminate the unlawful content.

Based on the new evidence, the metropolitan was served a notice of suspicion under Article 161 of the CCU (violation of equality of citizens based on their religious beliefs, committed repeatedly by an official).

The court is to decide on custody as a measure of restraint. The investigation is ongoing.

The SSU Cherkasy Office carried out the activities jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of Fastiv District Prosecutor’s Office.