Metropolitan of the Moscow Church in Vinnytsia region sentenced to five years in prison for supporting war in Ukraine

The head of one of the Vinnytsia eparchies of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate has been sentenced to up to five years in prison. The priest justified Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This information was reported by the press service of the Security Service of Ukraine.

The Metropolitan was in charge of the Tultchin eparchy in Vinnytsia Oblast. The court confirmed the evidence gathered by the security services and sentenced the cleric to five years in prison. He was convicted under the crimes specified in the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• Part 2 of Article 109 (actions aimed at forcibly changing or overthrowing the constitutional order or seizing state power);
• Part 1 of Article 110 (encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine);
• Part 2 of Article 161 (violation of the equality of citizens based on their race, nationality, regional affiliation, religious beliefs, disability, and other characteristics);
• Part 3 of Article 436-2 (justification, recognition as legitimate, denial of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine, glorification of its participants).

The Metropolitan distributed propaganda leaflets among the faithful, calling for the seizure of power and the change of Ukraine's state border. Additionally, he published materials on the website of the Russian Orthodox Church in support of Russian occupiers and their war crimes.

An examination by the Security Service of Ukraine confirmed the violation of the law by the collaborator.