Archpriest Serhiy: Left occupation only to be arrested by my compatriots
During the court session, Archpriest Serhiy spoke about the support he provided for Ukraine.
Archpriest Serhiy, during the court session, mentioned that it was a great surprise for him to be labeled as a traitor to Ukraine, his lawyer stated in court. He emphasized that he spent six months in occupation but always remained loyal to Ukraine. Despite the presence of Russian troops, he continuously prayed in the church for the return of the territories to Ukraine. According to the priest, evidence of this can be found on his Facebook page. When Father Sergiy arrived in Ukraine, the first thing he did was to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). Among other things, the priest raised funds for military equipment and transport for the soldiers.
The archpriest also stated that the money seized by investigators was intended to be spent on the needs of the AFU. He said that the fact the money did not reach the front lines and that soldiers are not being evacuated from the yellow zone is precisely due to the investigators who seized the funds.
Additionally, Archpriest Serhiy expressed his bewilderment at facing a life sentence for inciting religious hatred, as he has always treated other religions with tolerance.
Previously, the UOJ reported that the court extended the detention of Father Serhiy Chertylin for two months.
