Head of the Rivne Regional Council prosecuted after complaint by UOC clergy

On 20 July 2022, the Rivne Court issued a ruling obliging the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Rivne region to open criminal proceedings against the head of the Rivne Regional Council, Serhiy Kondrachuk, reports the press service of the Rivne Eparchy of the UOC.

At a meeting, the Rivne City Court considered a collective complaint by the clergy of the Rivne Eparchy of the UOC for failure to include information about criminal offences committed by Serhiy Kondrachuk in the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations. The judge upheld the complaint of the UOC clerics and obliged the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Rivne region to launch an investigation into the Kondrachuk case without delay.

"The decision is lawful. Every citizen of Ukraine has equal rights according to the Constitution of Ukraine. Consequently, anyone who violates these rights because of some personal preferences will be held accountable before the law," Raisa Dmytrenko, lawyer of the Rivne Eparchy of the UOC and human rights activist, commented on the court ruling.

As explained on the website of the eparchy, Serhiy Kondrachuk, using his official position, repeatedly called for seizures of UOC churches, inciting interfaith discord in the Rivne region, humiliating believers and priests of the UOC and violating their constitutional rights.

We remind you that on 7 July, UOC believers filed a complaint with the police against the head of the Rivne Regional Council, and Bishop Pymen of Rivne and Ostroh accused the official of insulting UOC believers and priests and of violating their constitutional rights.

As reported, Kremenets authorities in the Ternopil Region demand that the UOC be banned.

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