Document forgery case started after attempted seizure of Ladyzhyn temple

OCU clerics who seized the Kazan Church of the UOC in Ladyzhyn, Vinnytsia region. Photo: naparise.com

On December 29, 2023, law enforcement authorities initiated a criminal case regarding the forgery of documents submitted for the state registration of the Kazan Temple of the UOC in Ladyzhyn, Vinnytsia Oblast. The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, announced this in response to a parliamentary inquiry from MP Artem Dmytruk, published on his Telegram channel.

The criminal case for document forgery was initiated after an unsuccessful attempt by the OCU to raid the temple on December 28, 2023. The assaulters from the OCU actually seized the temple on the night of January 9, 2024, beating parishioners and the temple's rector.

The Minister also mentioned that the pre-trial investigation in this criminal case is being conducted by the Haisyn District Police Department under the supervision of the Main Department of the National Police in Vinnytsia Oblast.

"In addition to breaking into the sanctuary in military uniform, beating the believers and the rector, these raiders from the OCU also forged documents! <...> I have repeatedly warned that all raiders will inevitably face deserved punishment! No one will escape responsibility by hiding behind 'patriotic' slogans," wrote Dmytruk, commenting on the Minister's response.

As reported by the UOJ, the rector was brutally beaten, and the Kazan Temple was seized in Ladyzhyn.

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