On the night of May 16, the UOC temple in honor of Saint Prince Vladimir and Princess Olga in Kyiv, belonging to the Tithe Monastery of the UOC, was brutally and barbarically destroyed.
Popularly it is better known as the Tithe Temple.
Closer to 10 pm, the area around the church was surrounded and blocked by police and military officials.
Neither the brethren of the Tithe Monastery, nor the parishioners of the temple were allowed to their shrine.
Later, communications at the site were jammed, and construction equipment was brought to the temple.
In a matter of hours, the small, beautiful temple was completely destroyed. Together with the altar, into which the relics of the saints were placed, along with skillful icons and bas-reliefs. And its remains were transported to an unknown direction by trucks as construction waste.
A terrible tragedy for every Orthodox Ukrainian. Terrible news for every Orthodox Christian in the world, and for every Christian.

And the sobering truth about what the government in Kyiv has become, which no longer has anything in common with Europe and democracy.
Such lawless acts clearly show why they imprisoned Orthodox journalists on false charges. They are afraid of the publicity of the horrific crimes against the rights of Orthodox Ukrainians that they have planned.

To do this, people were first silenced - with criminal cases and fear of reprisals. They tried to shut it up.

And now, the next point of the criminal plan has come true. And those who told the truth and interfered with them have been sitting in pre-trial detention for three months now.

Help us free Orthodox journalists! Help bring back freedom of speech and conscience to Ukraine!

#Orthodox_journalists
#Free_UOJ #свободу_СПЖ
#UOJ #UOC #persecution_in_Ukraine #freedom_of_belief #freedom_of_speech
#Ukraine #СПЖ

Ночью 16 мая был жестоко и варварски разрушен храм УПЦ в честь равноапостольных князя Владимира и княгини Ольги в Киеве, относящийся к Десятинному мужскому монастырю УПЦ.
В народе он больше известен как Десятинный храм.
Ближе к 10 вечера территория вокруг церкви была окружена и заблокирована представителями полиции и военными.
Ни братия Десятинного монастыря, ни прихожане храма не были допущены к своей святыне.
Позже на месте была заглушена связь, а к храму подвезли строительную технику.
За считанные часы маленький красивый храм был полностью уничтожен. Вместе с престолом, в который были вложены мощи святых, вместе с искусными иконами и барельефами. А его останки вывезены в неизвестном направлении грузовиками как строительный мусор.
Страшная трагедия для каждого православного украинца. Страшное известие для каждого православного в мире, да и для каждого христианина.

И отрезвляющая правда о том, во что превратилась власть в Киеве, более не имеющая ничего общего с Европой и демократией.
Такие беззаконные деяния чётко показывают, для чего они бросили в тюрьму православных журналистов по лживым обвинениям. Они боятся огласки ужасающих преступлений потив прав православных украинцев, которые запланировали.

Для этого сначала людям заткнули рты — уголовными делами и страхом расправы. Попытались заткнуть.

И вот, теперь следующий пункт преступного плана осуществился. А те, кто говорил правду и мешал им, уже третий месяц сидят в СИЗО.

Помогите нам освободить православных журналистов! Помогите вернуть свободу слова и совести в Украину!

#Orthodox_journalists
#Free_UOJ #свободу_СПЖ
#UOJ #UOC #persecution_in_Ukraine #freedom_of_belief #freedom_of_speech
#Ukraine #СПЖ

29 травня мало відбутися апеляційне засідання на рішення слідчого судді про продовження тримання за вартою православного журналіста Андрія Овчаренка. Або перегляд цього необгрунтованого запобіжного заходу на м'якший.

Вже другий місяць журналіст та правозахисник перебуває у СІЗО за сфальшованим звинуваченням. Влада в особі СБУ переслідує Андрія Овчаренка за те, що він виконував технічні роботи на сайті СПЖ. Один із небагатьох ресурсів в Україні, який не боявся об'єктивно висвітлювати терор, який розгорнула влада проти українських християн, вірян УПЦ.

29 травня суддя ухвалив рішення перенести засідання «у зв'язку з недоставкою до зали суду затриманого».

Виправдовувалося це тим, що конвоювання журналіста не погоджено зі слідчим. Тобто слідство саме саботувало конвоювання підозрюваного, а суд скористався цим приводом, щоб перенести розгляд запобіжного заходу.

А отже, змусити Андрія сидіти далі у СІЗО.

Адвокати наголошують, що це не перший випадок, коли слідчий не діє у плані організації конвоювання.

При цьому в усі судові процеси, які проводяться з ініціативи слідства та звинувачення, затримані доставляються у строк.

Адвокати вважають такі дії порушенням прав підозрюваних на справедливий розгляд апеляційної скарги.

І це, безумовно, навмисне діяння, на наш погляд. Розглядати фейкову справу, по суті, звинуваченню не вигідно. Адже можна вже, без вини та доказів, карати журналістів триманням під вартою завдяки брудним маніпуляціям суду.

Розправа, це просто показова розправа та знущання.

#Orthodox_journalists
#Free_UOJ #свободу_СПЖ
#UOJ #UOC #persecution_in_Ukraine #freedom_of_belief #freedom_of_speech
#Ukraine #СПЖ

On May 29, an appeal hearing was scheduled to take place against the decision of the investigating judge to extend the detention of Orthodox journalist Andrei Ovcharenko. Or revising this unjustified preventive measure to a more lenient one.

For the second month now, the journalist and human rights activist has been in jail on false charges. The authorities, represented by the SSU, are persecuting Andrei Ovcharenko for performing technical work on the UOJ website. One of the few resources in Ukraine that was not afraid to objectively cover the terror that the authorities launched against Ukrainian Christians, believers of the UOC.

On May 29, the judge decided to postpone the hearings “due to the failure of the detainee to be brought to the courtroom.”

This was justified by the fact that the escort of the journalist was not agreed upon with the investigator. That is, the investigator itself sabotaged the escort of the suspect so court took advantage of this reason to postpone the consideration of the preventive measure.

This means forcing Andrei to continue to sit in the pre-trial detention center.

Lawyers emphasize that this is not the first time that an investigator has failed to act in terms of organizing an escort.

At the same time, in all trials carried out on the initiative of the investigation and prosecution, detainees are delivered on time.

Lawyers consider such actions to be a violation of the rights of suspects to a fair hearing of the appeal.

And this is certainly a deliberate act, in our opinion. It is not beneficial for the prosecution to consider fake cases on their merits. After all, it is already possible, without guilt or evidence, to punish journalists with detention thanks to the dirty manipulations of the court.

The reprisal is simply an exemplary reprisal and mockery.

#Orthodox_journalists
#Free_UOJ #свободу_СПЖ
#UOJ #UOC #persecution_in_Ukraine #freedom_of_belief #freedom_of_speech
#Ukraine #СПЖ

Україна, КИЇВ, 30 травня.

Цього дня відбулося нове судове засідання у справі о. Сергія Чертиліна — священика УПЦ і правозахисника, якого переслідує українська влада за політичними звинуваченнями.

Підтримати священнослужителя прийшли віруючі та військові, ветерани та військовослужбовці ЗСУ, яким він допомагав.

Отець Сергій та його адвокати направили клопотання про відведення суддів, яких викрили у порушенні закону та упередженості на минулому засіданні.

На жаль, клопотання було відхилено. І, на жаль, очікувано. Адже рішення ухвалювали ті самі судді.

Під час попереднього судового засідання суддя порушив таємницю дорадчої кімнати. У той час, коли він перебував у цьому приміщенні та приймав рішення, до судді зайшли слідчий СБУ та прокурор. Це грубе порушення всіх процедур, що дає змогу припустити тиск на суд з боку слідства.
Більше того, суддя заздалегідь поводився упереджено до отця Сергія.

Коли у відповідь на запитання, на яких підставах людину залишають у СІЗО за відсутності доказів, суддя відповідає "Так треба" — це теж багато про що говорить.

Сторона захисту також просила відкласти розгляд справи, щоб отримати додаткові матеріали від лікарів, які зараз лікують підозрюваного.

Але судді відповіли, що взагалі йдуть у відпустку. Таким чином засідання було перенесено майже на 2 місяці, на 22 липня

Не надання належної медичної допомоги, затягування ще на 2 місяці рішення про необхідну священнослужителю операцію — не що інше, як тортури.

Отця Сергія, православного священика та правозахисника, по суті, катують ув'язненням, не тільки необґрунтовано продовжуючи утримання під вартою, а й злочинно ставлять його життя під загрозу, позбавляючи медичної процедури.

Ми звертаємося до Amnesty International та Human Rights Watch, як до організацій, які неодноразово звертали свою увагу на жорстоке поводження до ув'язнених в Україні.

Більше того, отець Сергій навіть не ув'язнений.
Він не засуджений.
Він підслідний та підозрюваний. Суд у його справі триває, а утримання в СІЗО людини, яка не чинила насильницьких злочинів, священика, за явно політичними звинуваченнями, — ніщо інше, як розправа та свавілля силових структур.

#Orthodox_journalists
#Free_UOJ #свободу_СПЖ
#UOJ #UOC #persecution_in_Ukraine #freedom_of_belief #freedom_of_speech
#Ukraine #СПЖ

Ukraine, Kyiv, May 30.

On this day, a new court hearing took place in the case of Fr. Serhiy Chertilin, a UOC priest and human rights activist who is being persecuted by the Ukrainian authorities for political reasons.

Believers and military personnel, veterans and servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, whom he helped, came to support the clergyman.

Father Serhiy and his lawyers filed a petition to challenge the judges, who were convicted of violating the law and bias at the last meeting.

Unfortunately, the application was rejected. And, unfortunately, expected. After all, the decision was made by the same judges.

During the previous court hearing, the judge violated the secrecy of the deliberation room. While he was in this room and making a decision, an SBU investigator and a prosecutor came to see the judge. This is a gross violation of all procedures, suggesting pressure on the court from the investigation.
Moreover, the judge behaved in advance in a biased manner towards Father Serhiy.

When, in response to the question on what grounds a person is left in a pre-trial detention center in the absence of evidence, the judge answers “That’s how it should be” - this also says a lot.

The defense also requested that the case be postponed in order to obtain additional materials from doctors currently treating the suspect.

But the judges replied that they were generally going on vacation. Thus, the meeting was postponed almost 2 months, to July 22

Not providing proper medical care, delaying for another 2 months the decision on the operation necessary for the clergy - nothing less than torture.


Father Serhiy, an Orthodox priest and human rights activist, is essentially tortured in custody, not only by unreasonably prolonging his detention, but also by criminally putting his life at risk by depriving him of a medical procedure.

We address Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch as organizations that have repeatedly drawn their attention to the ill-treatment of prisoners in Ukraine.

Moreover, Father Serhiy is not even a prisoner.
He is not convicted.
He is under investigation and a suspect. The trial in his case continues, and the detention in a pre-trial detention center of a man who has not committed violent crimes, a priest, on clearly political charges is nothing more than reprisal and arbitrariness of the security forces.

#Orthodox_journalists
#Free_UOJ #свободу_СПЖ
#UOJ #UOC #persecution_in_Ukraine #freedom_of_belief #freedom_of_speech
#Ukraine #СПЖ

On June 6, a fundamentally important court hearing took place in the “UOJ” case. The issue of extending the investigation, and therefore the right to keep journalists and a priest in a pre-trial detention center without evidence of guilt, was being decided.
The meeting turned out to be significant and, in some ways, a turning point.

The prosecution belatedly filed a motion to extend the investigation and committed a series of violations of the process.
The hearing dragged on until the night; the prosecution and judges clearly had no arguments or answers to fair questions from the defense and prisoners. The lawyers simply left this torture room as a sign of protest and due to moral exhaustion. The court had no right to continue this travesty of a “hearing.”

However, all this did not prevent the prosecution and biased judges from pushing through an anti-legal decision to extend the investigation.
For another 3 months in addition to the 3 months of imprisonment that have already passed.
But despite this shameful and negative decision for journalists, this meeting left a feeling of a complete moral, intellectual and legal victory for prisoners of conscience and their lawyers.

Even though the conditions at the trial, in the narrow, stuffy “aquarium” cage where our loved ones were kept, were terrible, the lawyers and Orthodox prisoners had the opportunity to speak. They took advantage of it and completely defeated the absurd arguments of their pursuers. The accusations and this fake case have literally been trampled underfoot.

The prosecution seemed helpless.

This meeting revealed as much as possible the lack of any legal arguments, evidence and evidence among the prosecutor and the investigation, except for political slogans and the fulfillment of a political order. They looked pathetic, practically admitting that they were engaged in religious persecution.
The prosecution was in an obvious deadlock, and our prisoners were tearing it to smithereens.
In the following materials we will tell you the details of this meeting, which will certainly affect its course.

#Orthodox_journalists
#Free_UOJ
#UOJ #persecution_in_Ukraine

On June 6, the priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Serhii Chertilin, persecuted by the authorities, said that he was accused of being a representative of the “wrong”, supposedly “Moscow” Church. He drew this conclusion from the case materials and the behavior of the prosecutors.

During a meeting of the appeal court on the issue of changing the preventive measure, Father Serhii made a statement about the prosecutor's challenge.

When asked by the judge on what basis he made such a statement, the Father replied that in the prosecutor’s petition to extend the preventive measure, he was accused of being “a representative of the enemy Church.”

The priest also noted a “prejudicial attitude” towards him “even in suspicion” that he is a representative of the “wrong” denomination.

“My religious right to be a clergyman is being violated. My personal right to be an ordinary citizen who professes his faith has been violated,” Archpriest Serhii emphasized.

He also explained to the court: “The prosecutor’s recusal is motivated by the fact that the prosecutor, as part of a group of prosecutors, deliberately misled the court by accusing him of treason, by the fact that he has a biased attitude towards my religious beliefs, by the fact that I am a priest of the alleged “Moscow Patriarchate” "What was noted in the petition, suspicions, and so on."

“All this deliberately misleads the court,” the priest emphasized.

#Orthodox_journalists
#Free_UOJ
#UOJ #persecution_in_Ukraine

Among them, the member of Parliament named the names of the arrested UOJ journalists, as well as human rights activist Father Sergius Chertilin. The list, according to the people's deputy, is far from complete.

“In our time, when freedom of speech and the right to freedom of religion are declared fundamental human rights, many bishops, clergy and believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church continue to be subjected to unjustified persecution.

Fabricated criminal cases are brought against them - and only for their devotion to their Church and Faith.

Below is a list of those who are suffering persecution today for belonging to the UOC:

- Abbot of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel;

- Metropolitan Luke of Zaporozhye;

- Abbot of the Svyatogorsk Lavra, Metropolitan Arseny;

- Metropolitan of Sumy Evlogy;

- Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkassy;

- Metropolitan Longin of Banchen;

- Metropolitan Joseph of Vasilkov;

- Bishop Nikita of Ivano-Frankivsk;

- Archpriest Sergius Chertilin;

- Archpriest Dimitry Sidor, Rector of the Holy Cross Cathedral in Uzhgorod;

- Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich, Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the UOC;

- Archimandrite Venedikt Chromey, priest of the Khust diocese of the UOC

- 13 hierarchs were illegally deprived of Ukrainian citizenship, and personal sanctions were imposed against several more;

- Valery Stupnitsky, Andrey Ovcharenko, Vladimir Bobechko (journalists of the Union of Orthodox Journalists).

This list, unfortunately, is not complete. Almost every day there are news reports about new sentences and detentions of Ukrainian believers and priests. It is not always possible to draw attention to these cases.

However, we must continue to remember and pray for all those who today suffer for their faith and the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church!

#Orthodox_journalists
#Free_UOJ
#UOJ #persecution_in_Ukraine