Court closes the case against Rivne Eparchy secretary for “inciting hatred”
Secretary of the Rivne Eparchy of the UOC, Archpriest Viktor Zemlianyi. Photo: rivne.church
On October 5, 2023, the court in Rivne closed the case of the Secretary of the Rivne Eparchy of the UOC, Archpriest Viktor Zemlianyi, who was accused of "stoking interreligious strife" due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. The corresponding decision was published on the Registry of Court Decisions website.
The UOC clergyman was relieved of criminal liability as eight years had passed since the actions he was accused of.
According to reports from Suspilne, the regional prosecutor's office has already filed an appeal against the decision of the Rivne court.
According to the charges, from June to November 2015, Protodeacon Viktor Zemlianyi distributed brochures that "insulted the religious feelings of the UOC-KP (Kyiv Patriarchate) and UAOC (Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church) believers and contributed to inciting feelings of alienation and distrust among UOC believers and supporters of UOC-KP and UAOC."
Additionally, the investigation alleges that Father Viktor supposedly "offended the beliefs of UOC-KP believers" during the filming of the movies "Persecution" and "Ukraine: 'Mazepa' Operation."
As previously reported by the UOJ, Archpriest Viktor Zemlianyi explained why the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) initiated a criminal case against him.
Read also
Greece signs memorandum on protection of Jerusalem Patriarchate's shrines
Next week, the Greek Parliament will ratify a document on the protection of the cultural heritage of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
Greek bishop calls imposition of same-sex marriage a threat
Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythera urged families to become a “domestic church” amid threats to the Christian family in Greek laws and school curricula.
Patriarch Bartholomew arrives in Budapest for opening of Orthodox center
The Ecumenical Patriarch has arrived in Hungary, where he will preside over the consecration of the Orthodox center "Phanarion."
OCU raiders stage attack on seized church in Kyiv, media
OCU "hierarch" Serhiy Horobtsov published a provocative post online regarding St. John's Church in Bykivnia seized by his people.