Dognal group sect leaders expelled from Ukraine for anti-Ukrainian activities

Leaders of the unregistered Ukrainian Orthodox Greek-Catholic Church, known as the Dognal group, detained on June 22 during searches in Bryukhovychi, have been finally expelled from Ukraine. The same fate probably awaits for a part of sisters who also are citizens of foreign countries. It was reported by Zaxid.net.

The searches in two monasteries revealed ample evidence of the Dognal group’s anti-Ukrainian activities and numerous written and footageevidence verifying the suspicion that they are subordinate to Russia. The draft statute of the Dognal group, which has been found in a hiding place, provides that they “obey Russia, Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republic”.

On June 25, two “bishops” were deported from Ukraine: Czech citizen Richard Špiřík and Slovak citizen Patrick Sojka, Viktor Andriychuk, SSU Chair in Lviv region said at a press conference on June 25. Another three leaders of the organization – Robert Oberhauser, Feledi Marian and Peter Kolodiy were deported to Slovakia on June22.

The following leaders of the Dognal groupwere detained and deported: Elias Antonin Dognal, the self-proclaimed “Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Patriarchate,”who gave the sect his name.

On June 22, in Bryukhovychi, during a search of two monasteries, five leaders of the Dognal group were found. Three of them produced their documents, and the other two did not want to tell their names. Those who introduced themselves, were brought to the main office of the State Migration Service of Ukraine, where administrative protocols were drafted for the two of them for illegal staying on the territory of Ukraine. They paid 3.4 thousand each. On the same day, all of them were expelled from Ukraine.

The identities of two other leaders of the Dognal group, Richard Špiřík and Patrick Sojka, whodid not show documents, were established on June 24 in Zhovkva court. Being aware that the case will come to a logical end, lawyers brought their passportsbefore the court session.

Head of the regional department of the Security Service also noted that several nuns would be also probably expelled from Ukraine.

“In one of the schools where we conducted searches, there were about 20 nuns. I think the migration service will have some work to do, because part of them are citizens of foreign states and if it turns out they have violated the terms of stay in Ukraine, they will go the same way,” Viktor Andriychuk said.

He also said that during searches of the Dognal group’s monasteries in Bryukhovychi a hiding place was discovered, which contained flash drives, computers and other electronic media with anti-Ukrainian slogans. In addition, a stamp and a draft statute of Dognal group were found. It called to “obey Russia, the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republic.” Now this “document”undergoes legal examination.

“The draft statute is not an official document. It needs legal examination and assessment. This may be a piece of paper that says nothing,” he said, noting that there is no reason to institute a case for supporting terrorists.

At one of the video records withdrawn from the hiding place that the SSU offered at the disposal of journalists, the Dognal group leaders call to create autonomy from the European Union in central, eastern and southern regions of Ukraine.

“We propose that the Central, South and Eastern Ukraine created autonomy that will preserve the independence of the European Union. [...] Those traitors who offer to sign [an agreement on] the association with the European Union, we suggest that they all were resettled in Western Ukraine where they can safely worship their European,” says one of the“bishops”.

Head of Lviv Security Service Regional Directorate said that based on the analysis of materials and documents found another criminal case will be instituted under Article 161 (violation of equality of citizens regardless of their racial, ethnic or other accessory). He explained that this aliberal article, but if the SSUfinds evidence of their anti-Ukrainian activities, the case will be requalified.

According to him, Putin’s calls to send troops to Ukraine are not grounds for instituting proceedings for anti-Ukrainian activities.

A criminal case for arbitrariness against the Dognal group was initiated two years ago in Shevchenko district police department. Later investigation of the case was suspended, and this year it was reinstituted.