Khust Eparchy issues a statement regarding TCC’s unlawful actions
Employees of the Khust Regional Military Recruitment Center detained two priests of the UOC diocese, despite legal grounds for exemption from military service.
On March 27, 2024, employees of the Transcarpathian Regional Military Recruitment, Conscription (RMRCC) and Social Support (SS) Centers urgently summoned the treasurer of the Transcarpathian Khust Eparchy, Archpriest Ioan Petechel, by phone, informing him that, despite his family status, he is subject to mobilization and must be sent to a military unit. This is stated in the address of the Khust Eparchy.
The eparchial press service provided details of the situation.
On January 26, the treasurer (accountant) of the UOC Eparchy, Archpriest Ioan Petechel, who has three adopted children in his care, submitted a package of documents to the Transcarpathian RMRCC with the aim of updating accounting data. After receiving this package of documents, RMRCC workers handed the applicant a summons for a re-call on March 25. On this day, Archpriest Ioan was reissued a summons for April 29.
On March 27, officials called the clergyman and informed him of the urgent need to appear. When Father Ioan arrived at the RMRCC, he was told that he was subject to mobilization on the same day. Despite his family status, he must be sent to a military unit, information about which was not provided to the priest.
The Khust Eparchy also reminded that on March 14, the secretary of the Transcarpathian Eparchy, Archpriest Ioan Rozman, was summoned by a subpoena for questioning at the Tyachiv District Police Department. After the interrogation, at the exit from the police premises, he was detained by individuals in balaclavas with weapons, who drove him away in a car with special plates in an unknown direction. As of today, he is among the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, despite lawful grounds for exemption from military service.
The Eparchy drew the attention of state authorities responsible for military registration and control over the legality of actions of RMRCC employees to these events.
"We ask to provide proper protection to the clergy of the Khust Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by legal means," the statement says.
As reported by the UOJ, in its report, the UN stated that "clergymen and parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church continue to experience intimidation."
