UOC Law Dept: No case’s been initiated against "Quarter 95" mockers so far
"Quarter 95". Photo: news.church.ua
The Legal Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church stated that no investigation has yet been initiated against the comedians from "Bayraktar News" who publicly mocked Christian symbols and insulted the religious feelings of Orthodox Christians, reports to news.church.ua.
On December 15, 2022, a criminal complaint under Part 1 Article 161 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code ((incitement to enmity) was filed with the law-enforcement agencies. It is noted that all complaints about the inaction of the investigator, requests and letters to the relevant authorities and the court remained unanswered for a long time.
"Only these days we have learnt from the law enforcement officials that ‘the application is assigned to district police officers’, while no other information is available. At present, it is not known whether the court decision, which obliges to enter information into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations, has been fulfilled," explain the lawyers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
At the same time, criminal proceedings are hastily opened against bishops and priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by law enforcement agencies on charges of inciting hatred during church preaching, where the clergy try to defend their religious beliefs.
"This situation not only demonstrates the inaction of the Pechersk Police Department of the National Police in Kyiv, the Pechersk District Prosecutor's Office of Kyiv, and the Main Department of the National Police of Kyiv to initiate a pre-trial investigation into the statement of a criminal offence but also indicates the resistance of law enforcement agencies to the attempts of the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC to protect the violated rights of UOC believers, to prevent the commission of new criminal offences. The mentioned video causes indignation among citizens in connection with the humiliating attitude towards the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its clergy," explained the Legal Department of the UOC.
As previously reported, the head of the Legal Department of the UOC stated that the blasphemy of "Quarter 95" falls under the Criminal Code.
Read also
OCU chaplain: A soldier should not feel guilty for killing enemies
According to a cleric of the OCU, the word “killing” should not even be used in this context.
AFU servicewoman punished by “being sent to the frontline” for defending UOC
An OCU representative explained how commanders punish UOC believers who defend their Church.
UOC church seized after OCU's and UGCC's provocation at soldier's funeral
Supporters of the UGCC brought the body of a soldier into the church, pressuring a UOC priest to conduct the funeral according to the Greek Catholic rite in an Orthodox church.
UOC hierarch calls on the faithful to pray for the return of seized shrine
Metropolitan Theodosiy urged the faithful to communal and personal prayer to Archangel Michael.
Russian Orthodox Church Primate: Christ did not condemn death penalty
The Patriarch added that, although the Church does not welcome the death penalty, it has never condemned it if this punishment is carried out in accordance with the law.
Metropolitan Jonathan appeals sentence to Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has requested criminal case files from the Vinnytsia City Court for cassation review.