Metropolitan Jonathan addresses Zelensky over criminal prosecution

Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchyn and Bratslav. Photo: news.church.ua

Metropolitan Jonathan of Tultchyn and Bratslav addressed President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky demanding the creation of a special commission to investigate the abuses by the prosecution in the criminal case filed against him. He stated this in an interview published on the eparchy's website.

"Let its members thoroughly clean up the Vinnytsia investigators, prosecutors' and judicial 'Augean stables'! For the angry protests of the Heads and Hierarchs of the Orthodox and non-Orthodox Churches, international human rights forums and organisations, and well-known foreign lawyers with global names have broken out," he said.

The hierarch explained that the prosecution removed from the criminal case the episode with the "evidence" planted by SBU officers during the search.

The Bishop also urged the authorities to identify and interrogate the SBU officer who planted leaflets in his guest room.

"The forged SBU investigation and unjust court verdict shattered my childhood trust in the branches of power, investigative bodies, and the judicial system of Ukraine! <...> I hope that on January 22, 2024, the Appellate Court of Vinnytsia will be ideal in terms of its members and maximally objective in the essence and letter of the legal proceedings," added the Metropolitan.

As a reminder, the Internet showed how the SBU falsified the case against the UOC bishop.

As reported, the Appellate Court postponed the hearing on the case of Metropolitan Jonathan.

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