UOC-MP Metropolitan Iosaf is placed under night house arrest

Iosaf (Petro Huben), the former metropolitan of the Kirovohrad diocese, now vicar of Kyiv in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), has been placed under night house arrest by a court in Kropyvnytskyi, Kirovohrad Oblast, on suspicion of inciting enmity.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda’s journalist from the courtroom

Details: According to the investigation, Bishop Iosaf was part of the inner circle of Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill [Vladimir Gundyayev], with whom he coordinated the spread of pro-Kremlin views in the oblast. The investigation found that the instructions from his Moscow overseers came in the form of written circulars, as well as in-person meetings in Russia.

During searches on the territory of the diocese, law enforcement officers found a significant quantity of pro-Russian printed materials and documents with evidence of correspondence with Moscow "overseers". In the literature found, Ukrainian statehood was questioned and the Kremlin regime was praised.

An expert examination conducted as part of the criminal proceedings established that the metropolitan's activities threaten the state security of Ukraine.

Iosaf was charged under Art. 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the equality of citizens on the basis of race, ethnic origin, regional origin, religious beliefs, disability, and other grounds).

Serhii Ozhoh, a prosecutor from Kirovohrad Prosecutor's Office, asked the court to put the suspect under 24-hour house arrest at his registered address in the city of Kropyvnytskyi, although visiting medical facilities would be permitted. The prosecutor emphasised the risks of the suspect escaping, putting pressure on witnesses, or destroying or distorting physical evidence.

Serhii Halushko, the suspect's lawyer, objected to the request, stressing that the risks were unfounded. Halushko said his client was cooperating with the investigation and had no intention of hiding.

He also emphasised that Iosaf is a lonely person with no relatives and he would not be able to support himself if he were under a 24-hour house arrest.

Iosaf himself merely confirmed what his defence lawyer said in court. Neither the lawyer nor the suspect said anything with regard to the substance of the charge.

When questioned by journalists during a break in the court hearing, however, Iosaf denied that he had communicated with the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine had started. Iosaf noted that his letters, previously published in the media, are "what the office sends to many priests".

"I have a negative attitude towards the Russian invasion. Look at my statements on our Kirovohrad Diocese website. There were also my appeals to Putin," said Iosaf.

"I am not part of Kirill's inner circle. Where am I, and where is the patriarch?" he added.

When asked about the occupation of Crimea, he said, "I feel the same way about it as you do," and the reason he gave for the St George's ribbon found by investigators during the search was that "his father fought in the war". [The orange-and-black St George’s ribbon is used to commemorate veterans of the Eastern Front of the Second World War - ed.]

However, Iosaf admitted that he had criticised the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and this could have been the reason for the suspicion being lodged against him. Asked about the possible closure of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, Iosaf replied, "I hope that the leadership of our state will resolve this wisely and in a modern way."

The court partially granted the investigators’ request and placed Iosaf under night house arrest until 30 January. Despite the fact that he is now working in Kyiv, he will stay in Kropyvnytskyi for two months.

The suspect and his lawyer do not yet know whether they will appeal the ruling. The prosecutor will decide on the appeal after receiving the full text of the court ruling.

Previously, officers of the Security Service of Ukraine conducted searches on Iosaf’s private property and found pro-Russian literature, materials and correspondence with Russian overseers. The Synod of the UOC-MP has dismissed Iosaf as Bishop of Kirovohrad, but he continues to serve in Kyiv.

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