Metropolitan Alexander (Drabinko)’s interrogation protocols on kidnapping nuns published

Metropolitan Alexander (Drabinko) was fully aware that he was an accomplice of a loud criminal offence of kidnapping nuns in the summer of 2013, and tried to avoid responsibility by shifting the blame to his friend – the businessman Sergei But, reports the "Komsomolskaya Pravda (KP) in Ukraine."

The publication stresses that this follows from the protocols of interrogation of Drabinko by investigation agencies and courts.

The record of the interrogation, which took place on June 18, 2013 in the Pechersk court in the presence of the suspect S.But and his defence counsel, confirmed an earlier made statement of the former deputy prosecutor of Kiev Maxim Lenko that Drabinko was involved in the abduction of the abbess of the Holy Protection Convent and her lay-sister, repented of it, and went on to cooperate with the investigation, testifying against businessman Sergei But.

As protocols show, the metropolitan was aware that there was a threat of abduction and further detention of nuns on the part of his friend. However, knowing this, Drabinko at But’s request called out the abbess of the Holy Protection Convent Kalisfeniyu and treasurer Catherine to his appointment.

Responding to the question at the hearing whether he knew the purpose of retaining the nuns, Drabinko noted that thus they were supposed to obtain information about the whereabouts of the money, including his own funds transferred to Panko.

"The specific purpose of such a possible detention was to find out if there was money or not, without harming health or posing a threat to life. As I was informed before the meeting that if such detention did happen, at least 3 days later they would be returned and there wouldn’t be any harm to their health," said Drabinko.

As follows from the materials, the appointment, which was attended by But, was held late on June 14, 2013 at the office of the metropolitan on the territory of the convent. Drabinko tried to put pressure on the nuns, to blackmail them with a fictional story about a meeting with some friends, who threatened of physical violence against them. Nevertheless, the nuns assured that they had no money. After the appointment, at the exit of the convent Kalisfeniya and Catherine were kidnapped by a group of "sportsmen" and three days were detained at an undisclosed location, experiencing the constant pressure and threats. The organizer of the abduction, according to investigators, was S. But, the perpetrators of the offence – the free fight champion Sergei Danish and four young athletes.

The author of the publication says that interrogation protocols show that Drabinko tried to completely shift the blame for the organization of the appointment with the nuns to But, positioning himself as an ignorant witness.

Drabinko personally requested to provide him with additional security. According to the publication, after the change of power Drabinko began to argue that the assigned guard in fact illegally detained him, which was part of a "criminal conspiracy" of the previous government on the forced displacement of the late Metropolitan Vladimir from the post of the Primate of the UOC.

The case is currently under investigation by the General Prosecutor's Office and Drabinko acts as a main witness. In this case the GPO submitted a request to the Parliament that Vadim Novinsky, suspected of involvement in "illegal detention" of Metropolitan Drabinko, be stripped of deputy’s immunity. Novinsky, in his turn, said that "there is a marked political motivation in the investigation of the GPO; the case was fabricated in order to arrange another information hype and put pressure on the opposition."

As reported earlier, former Interior Minister accused Metropolitan Alexander (Drabinko) of the abduction of nuns.