Lawyer: Metropolitan Theodosy case has no legal background

Ihor Golubchik, the lawyer of Metropolitan Theodosy of Cherkasy and Kaniv said that there was no violation of the current criminal law on the part of Metropolitan Theodosy. The lawyer said this after questioning the metropolitan at the District Prosecutor's Office, reports the press service of the Cherkasy Eparchy.

The UOC hierarch noted that he does not agree with the charges against him under Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the rights of believers based on religious convictions).

Metropolitan Theodosy said that Article 161 is used against clergymen of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church when they try to protect their Church and the rights of believers and stand up for the truth.

"Article 161 was written into the Criminal Code after the destruction of the Soviet Union. Why? So that the mistreatment of believers would never happen again in a country with equal rights for citizens. But 30 years have passed and it is this article that is used for us when we defend ourselves," he said.

Earlier, the Sosnovskyy District Court of Cherkasy determined a measure of restraint in the form of personal recognizance for Metropolitan Theodosy.

As reported, on 20 February, the SBU declared suspicion to Metropolitan Theodosy of Cherkasy. The SBU searched the bishop's apartment and said that "unequivocal evidence" of the UOC hierarch's guilt of inciting interfaith discord had been collected.