The SBU published a list of church leaders who were sanctioned: Novinsky said he would fight "against persecution for religious beliefs"

The Security Service of Ukraine published a list of persons who fell under the sanctions of the National Security and Defense Council. The list includes 10 people closely associated with the UOC.

What is it about:

• Novinsky Vadim Vladislavovich - cleric of the UOC;
• Lebed Petr Dmitrievich - Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl, vicar of the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra;
• Shvets Rostislav Filippovich (Lazar) - Metropolitan of Simferopol and Crimea;
• Udovenko Vladimir Petrovich (Platon) - Metropolitan of Feodosia and Kerch;
• Opanasenko Vyacheslav Alexandrovich - Bishop Agathon of Koktebel;
• Ovsyannikov Alexander Alexandrovich - Bishop of Dzhankoysky and Razdolsky Alexy;
• Chernyshev Konstantin Valerievich - Bishop Kallenik of Bakhchisarai;
• Taranov Alexander Borisovich - Archbishop of Rovenkovsky and Sverdlovsk Arkady;
• Ivanov Oleg Alexandrovich - former Metropolitan of Izyum and Kupyansky Elisha;
• Maslennikov Alexey Alexandrovich - former Metropolitan of Romensky and Burinsky Joseph.

It is noted that most of them are located in the uncontrolled territories of Ukraine or abroad. Restrictions are introduced for a period of five years and include blocking assets, restricting trade operations, blocking the withdrawal of capital from Ukraine, and so on. In addition, they were deprived of state awards and other forms of awards.

Novinsky said he would sue

Former MP Vadim Novinsky reacted to the personal sanctions imposed against him by the National Security and Defense Council and announced his intention to challenge them in the courts. Novinsky expressed his opinion in Facebook.

The ex-people's deputy said that he regards the application of personal sanctions against him as "persecution for religious beliefs." 

According to him, for many years he "feels pressure" for the support and charitable assistance of the UOC-MP.

"I consciously accepted the citizenship of Ukraine and I am its patriot. I have always stood for peace, the preservation of Ukrainian statehood and the territorial integrity of Ukraine. The businesses in which I am a shareholder make a significant contribution to the economy and defense of Ukraine," Novinsky said.

He recalled that the Constitution of Ukraine guarantees freedom of religion.

Searches in the UOC-MP - what is known

On November 22, the SBU came with searches to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra after information appeared in the media that the "Russian world" was being glorified in one of the temples.

Law enforcement officers conducted searches in the temples of the UOC-MP in different regions of Ukraine. According to the SBU, more than 350 church buildings and 850 people were checked, of which more than 50 people were interrogated. Among them were both citizens of Ukraine and foreigners, namely Russians. During the checks, law enforcement officers revealed a lot of Russian propaganda literature that denied the existence of Ukraine.

We previously reported that 50 people tested on a polygraph: the results of searches by the SBU in more than 350 church buildings of the UOC.