The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported that since February 2022 it has initiated 65 criminal cases against the clergy of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).
"According to the materials of the SBU, 65 criminal proceedings are being investigated against clergymen, including bishops of the UOC (MP)," the message on the Telegram channel of the special service says.
The SBU clarified that criminal cases were opened after the start of a special military operation. During this time, the courts handed down 15 convictions against the clergy of the UOC. In addition, 19 priests who were accused of having Russian citizenship were stripped of their Ukrainian passports.
Earlier, the SBU reported that in 2022, its investigators opened 52 criminal cases involving 55 clergy of the UOC, including 14 bishops, 13 hierarchs of the UOC were deprived of Ukrainian citizenship.
In particular, the vicar of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel, Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkasy, as well as Joasaph, the former Metropolitan of Kirovograd, and now Metropolitan Vasilkovsky, were subjected to criminal prosecution on charges of "inciting religious hatred".