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KYIV. Dec 1 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has reported suspicion to a priest of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, at whose service the "Russian world" was glorified, the suspect has not been detained, the issue of choosing a preventive measure for him will be resolved.
"During the pretrial investigation, the fact of illegal actions of one of the clergy and his accomplices who participated in this service was established. This is confirmed by relevant expert studies," the Telegram channel of the Ukrainian special service reported on Thursday.
According to the SBU, these persons are suspected of committing offenses under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 1 of Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (justification, recognition as lawful, denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, glorification of its participants committed by a group of persons).
The pretrial investigation is carried out by the SBU investigators under the procedural leadership of Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office.
In the message of the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office on the Telegram channel, it appears that the suspected cleric is a citizen of Ukraine, a native of Bryansk region of the Russian Federation.
According to the prosecutor’s office, on November 12, 2022, the suspect distributed propaganda theses among parishioners during a divine service in one of the temples of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra National Reserve.
"According to the results of a forensic linguistic semantic and textual examination, the theses from a religious song distributed in the temple contain justification, recognition of the legitimate armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, launched in 2014, justification, recognition of the lawful temporary occupation of part of the territory of Ukraine," the city prosecutor’s office said.
A law enforcement source told Interfax-Ukraine that the cleric was not detained. "He was handed a suspicion, he got acquainted with it," the agency interlocutor said.
He also noted that the investigation is ongoing, the issue of choosing a preventive measure for the suspect will be resolved.
