President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree imposing sanctions on some representatives of religious organizations who are suspected of being affiliated with centers of influence in the Russian Federation.
On December 1, sanctions were imposed by the National Security and Defense Council against the clergy of the UOC-MP, in particular, the vicar of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Pavel and ex-People's Deputy Vadim Novinsky. Zelensky put it into effect the same day.
The National Security and Defense Council made the decision after considering the activities of religious organizations on the territory of Ukraine during the war and to ensure spiritual independence, prevent a split in society along religious lines, promote the consolidation of Ukrainian society and protect the national interests of Ukraine.
In addition, the National Security and Defense Council instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to submit to the Verkhovna Rada a bill on the impossibility of religious organizations affiliated with centers of influence in the Russian Federation to operate in Ukraine within two months.
On November 30, the Security Service of Ukraine searched the home of the Primate of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate Pavel.
During a search in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, SBU officers found pro-Russian literature and two million hryvnias. The SBU reported on finding pro-Russian literature used in teaching at the seminary and parochial schools, “including for propaganda of the ‘Russian world’.”
On November 27, an inspection was carried out in Ivano-Frankivsk in the Church of the Nativity of Christ of the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate.
“With the direct participation of representatives of the church, law enforcement officers inspect the territory and premises of the diocese to identify objects prohibited for circulation and check persons on the territory of the diocese regarding their involvement in illegal activities to the detriment of the state,” the message says.
Earlier, on November 25, SBU officers came with a search to the rector of the Pochaev Theological Seminary, Iov. The clergyman was found to have Russian literature, which, according to the source of the publication, "exalts imperialism", and the equipment was confiscated.
The Russian Orthodox Church believes that the searches are related to the ""voluntary" association of Ukrainian Orthodox," the Synodal Department for External Church Relations said.