"He called to pray for the health of the Russian occupiers": SBU serves suspicion notice to priest of UOC-Moscow Patriarchate
The name is not mentioned, but the media wrote about the searches of Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has announced that it has served a notice of suspicion on the deputy head of the Synodal Department for External Church Relations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.
He is suspected of committing crimes under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Part 2 of Article 161 (violation of equality of citizens based on their race, nationality, region, religious beliefs and other grounds), Part 2 of Article 436-2 (justification, recognition of the legitimacy, denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, glorification of its participants).
"The cleric justified Russia's war against Ukraine and incited religious hatred. After Russia's full-scale invasion, the archpriest publicly called for cooperation with the racists to jointly "pray for the health and well-being" of the Russian occupiers," the SBU said in its telegram channel.
The name was not mentioned, but Interfax-Ukraine, citing its sources, reported that the deputy head of the synodal department for external church relations of the UOC (MP), Archpriest Mykola Danylevych, was searched.
According to the special service, the priest repeatedly used his own telegram channel to spread pro-Kremlin propaganda.
The priest was in charge of the network of dioceses of the UOC (MP) abroad.
"These institutions spread Russian propaganda narratives under the guise of allegedly providing spiritual care to Ukrainian migrants. In this way, the defendant tried to influence the minds of Ukrainians abroad and discredit our country in the international arena," the SBU said in a statement.
It is also reported that during the searches at the suspect's place of residence, an insurance certificate of compulsory pension insurance of the Russian Federation was found, as well as "documents confirming his studies at the diplomatic academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation".
The issue of choosing a preventive measure against the priest is currently being decided.
Background. As a reminder, the SBU reported the detention of ex-Region of Regions member Lukyanov, but the event took place in February.
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