Archpriest Oleksandr Ivanchenko, a cleric of the St. George’s Church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Lviv, has been tried for “inciting religious hatred”. The reason for the trial is the alleged distribution by the clergyman of a book entitled “The Modern Ukrainian Question and its solution according to divine and sacred canons” by Metropolitan Nikephoros (Kykkotis) of Kykkos and Tilliria. The investigation saw in this book “signs of Russian propaganda directed against the foundations of national security of Ukraine”. About it reports zaxid.net.

“According to the materials of the case, which published in the court register, the duties of the accused included control over the parishes, which are part of the structure of the Lviv diocese of the UOC-MP. In November 2022, Oleksandr Ivanchenko was in the premises of St. George’s Church and handed out books “Modern Ukrainian Question and its solution according to divine and sacred canons” to visitors of the church. This literature was published in 2020 in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. The books, which were distributed by the priest, have signs of Russian propaganda directed against the foundations of national security of Ukraine. During the pre-trial investigation, Oleksandr Ivanchenko pleaded guilty and entered into a plea agreement on April 15, 2024. The priest agreed to pay a fine”, – the statement said.

It is characteristic that despite the article under which the clergyman was convicted, he got off with a fine of 3,400 hryvnias. This situation demonstrates the different measure of responsibility for violation of “equality of citizens on religious grounds”.

“Judge Hryhoriy Zhovnir found Alexander Ivanchenko guilty of inciting ethnic and religious hatred (part 1 of article 161 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code) and appointed him 3.4 thousand UAH fine. Also the priest will pay more than 15 thousand UAH for forensic examinations. The sentence can be appealed in the Lviv court of appeal”, – summarized in the publication.

Recall, the Pechersk police Department of Kiev has started and is still investigating criminal proceedings for inciting religious hatred against an employee of the National Reserve “Kievo-Pechersk Lavra” and, at the same time, the vicar of the Kievo-Pechersk monastery of the OCU Avrahamiy Lotysh. He is accused of making public statements about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which were presented in a form provoking a biased attitude towards the UOC.