The Security Service found new incriminating evidence against the head of the Cherkasy Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (MP), Feodosiy (Snihiriov). While under house arrest pending an investigation into previous crimes, he continued to publicly incite religious hatred.
Early this year, the Metropolitan was charged with denying Russia’s armed aggression and spreading calls for inter-religious enmity, the SBU recalls.
Then the court ruled house arrest for the priest and started hearing the case on the merits.
However, this did not stop the cleric as he has been recording provocative videos in which he repeated Kremlin narratives about religious communities in Ukraine while under house arrest.
It has been established that in his “appeals” the suspect spoke disparagingly of believers and clergymen of other denominations.
He also tried to discredit law enforcers who were involved in security missions in religious communities across the region.
After recording propaganda videos, their author posted his malign content on the YouTube channel of the UOC (MP)’s Cherkasy Diocese.
Thus, the metropolitan acted in favor of the aggressor power and tried to destabilize the socio-political situation in the region.
Based on new evidence, the metropolitan was additionally charged under Art. 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the equality of citizens depending on their religious beliefs, committed repeatedly by an official).
Currently, the issue of choosing a new preventive measure is being resolved.
