Zhytomyr Appeals Court Overturns Conviction of UOC Priest

Zhytomyr Court of Appeals. Photo: sud.ua

ZHYTOMYR, UKRAINE — On February 5, 2026, the Zhytomyr Court of Appeal overturned a prior ruling against Archpriest Vladyslav Smolynskyi of the Ovruch Eparchy of the UOC, who had been convicted under Part 1 of Article 436-2 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code for allegedly justifying Russian armed aggression.

The appellate court found significant violations of criminal procedural law in the earlier decision by the Radomyshl District Court. Among the concerns was the acceptance of an “investigative experiment” conducted at the regional office of the Security Service of Ukraine, which the defense argued amounted to a joint interrogation of witnesses without proper reconstruction of events.

Judges also noted the lower court failed to assess the admissibility of key evidence or establish intent and motive. The case will now be reheard on its merits in the district court.

Previously, the UOJ reported that a Ukrainian priest was detained and transferred to a military unit under coercion. 

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