As reported in the directorates of the Rivne and Sarny dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, priests, Rivne region EN masse to be interrogated by the Deputy Head of legotla of UAS in Rivne region ACE B. M. reported Information and enlightenment Department of the UOC.
In particular, he received information that a significant number of priests, rural deans of the diocese of Sarny, as well as 20 priests of the diocese of Rivne received a summons for questioning as a witness, without explanation, on what to testify.
It should be noted that after the adoption during the Council of bishops November 13, 2018 Resolution on the latest Church events in Ukraine, in different regions of Ukraine almost simultaneously held a series of provocations directed against the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In particular, included the illegal actions near the residences of the diocesan offices and the bishops of the UOC. In addition, systematic calls to the bishops of the UOC on the conversation in the SBU.
According to the Chairman of the legal Department of the UOC Archpriest Alexander Behova, “given the consistency, simultaneity, mass, these actions are aimed at bishops to put pressure and force them to participate in the so-called “unification Council””. Analyzing the latest developments, the lawyer stressed that these provocations are a direct violation of the constitutional rights of citizens of Ukraine and have a pronounced artificial and centralized, and are not impartial manifestation of the will of the people.
Archpriest Alexander bakhov also said the rights of the clergy and the faithful in the event of a call in SBU that is regulated by the Criminal procedure code. He recalled that “persons have the right to use legal assistance which is guaranteed by article 59 of the Constitution of Ukraine, and come together with the lawyer also have the right not to incriminate themselves and their loved ones.”