SBU completes investigation into Metropolitan Jonathan (Yeletskikh) case

Metropolitan Jonathan (Yeletskikh). Photo: the press service of the Tulchyn Eparchy

The Security Service of Ukraine has completed investigative actions against Metropolitan Jonathan (Yeletskikh), reports the Tulchyn Eparchy.

Metropolitan Jonathan is accused of inciting hatred among the citizens of Ukraine on religious grounds and of intending to forcibly change the constitutional order of Ukraine by searching on the Internet, making, circulating and storing propaganda leaflets with anti-Ukrainian and pro-Russian content and, according to SBU investigators, with the intention to further distribute them among the clergy through the eparchial office.

Vladyka categorically disagrees with the accusations brought against him. He calls them far-fetched and intends to bring to the court fragments of the video recordings of the searches by the SBU Office in the Vinnytsia region in the eparchial chancellery and the temporary residence, with gross violations of the search procedure, casting doubt on the version of the investigators of the above mentioned SBU Office about the origin of the leaflets.

The press service’s message also said that Metropolitan Jonathan protested against the official refusal of the investigator of the SBU Office in the Vinnytsia region to listen and record the testimony of forty declared defence witnesses – parishioners of the Nativity Cathedral of Tulchyn and rectors of the churches in favour of the accused.

"Metropolitan Jonathan was surprised and offended by the linguistic expert's comment that Christ is a mythical person. This 'Soviet' interpretation of the Bible also causes rejection," the Tulchyn Eparchy said in the statement.

As reported, the clergy of the Tulchyn Eparchy said they have full confidence in their ruling bishop.

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