Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchyn and Bratslav Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison

Information and Education Department of UOC – OCP News Service – 13/08/2023

Kyiv – Ukraine: Vinnytsia City Court on August 07, 2023, sentenced Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchyn and Bratslav to 5 years in prison. The verdict from the Vinnytsia City Court came in as the latest episode of state persecution against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

According to UOC information services:

The measure of restraint chosen is nighttime house arrest at the place of actual residence in the town of Bershad in the Vinnytsia Oblast.

Metropolitan Ionafan has more than once stated that he pleads not guilty to all the articles of the state indictment. The defense will file an appeal against the clearly unlawful verdict of the Vinnytsia City Court.

Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchyn and Bratslav was accused of:

Article 436-2 (justification, recognition as legitimate, denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, glorification of its participants)

Art. 109 (actions aimed at the violent change or overthrow of the constitutional order or at the seizure of state power)

Art. 110 (encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine, distribution of materials calling for changes in the territory and state border of Ukraine).

Art. 161 (violation of the equality of citizens depending on their racial, national, regional belonging, religious beliefs, disability and on other grounds).

Source:

OCP News Service