House of UOC-KP priest in Crimea searched, his mother interrogated

24.12.2015, 10:58
During the search, four copybooks with personal records of Father Serhiy, his member card of "People's Movement of Ukraine", military ID, and medical card were seized.

On December 22, 2015, 21:30 local time, Russian security forces raided the house of the priest, Father Serhiy of the UOC-KP in Simferopol. It was reported Crimean human rights group. Search warrant was issued on December 22 and signed by the "prosecutor" of the Republic of Crimea Natalia Poklonskaya.


“The criminal case was initiated for alleged participation in “extremist organizations.” In the past, Father Serhiy was member of the “People's Movement of Ukraine.” However, the list of organizations whose activities Russia decided to eliminate or prohibit (in accordance with the Federal Law “On combating extremist activities”), does not include this organization,” the Crimean human rights group claims.


During the search, four copybooks with personal records of Father Serhiy, his member card of "People's Movement of Ukraine", military ID, and medical card were seized.


The next day the two men dressed civilian stopped the priest’s mother in the street took her to the Railway police department for interrogation. For a long time there was no connection with the woman. After interrogation she was released. She was interrogated as a witness, she was questioned about her son, where he was now, what he was doing, whom he communicated with, what he did in the “People's Movement of Ukraine,” and so on. In addition, she was asked the personal data and her fingerprints taken. During the interrogation the woman repeatedly told that her son was a "dangerous man" and she “would have to let them know if he appeared in Crimea or called relatives.”


According to Olga Skrypnyck, an expert of the Crimean human rights group, currently the priest lives and serves in Dnipropetrovsk region. He was affected by the search of his home, which occurred in Simferopol, so he cannot get to his home even if he likes to, and now it is in any case impossible for him to return to Crimea since, given the policy of the Russian special services, such a move is extremely risky and dangerous. “It is still a mystery for us – on what grounds, on the basis of the provisions the search was made? In the near future we will get a list of documents from the Russian side, and then we hope that the situation becomes clearer. As for me, in search of charges Poklonska may declare that Father Serhiy was found to have relations with one of the banned organizations. It is no secret that the current goal of the Crimean prosecutor's office is not to pursue justice, but persecute people,” Olga Skrypnyck said.