Russian media have found a passport of a Russian citizen, the leader of the UOC-MP Onufriy, in the databases of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. However, his documents are not listed in the registers of invalid passports. The real name of Onufriy is Orest Berezovsky.
This was reported by BABEL, citing the "Agency" outlet.
However, Orest Berezovsky's passport can be found in regular databases. He was issued a passport in Moscow in 2002, which indicates Moscow as his place of residence.
On April 7th, the Ukrainian news outlet "Ukrainska Pravda" published investigation findings revealing that Metropolitan Onufriy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and over 20 other clergy members of the UOC have Russian passports.
According to an extract from the "Rospassport" system, Orest Berezovsky (Onufriy) received a Russian passport on March 20, 2002, in Moscow. He then received a Russian foreign passport in the capital city in 2003, just a year later. According to the same extract, Onufriy received a Russian foreign passport in 1998, indicating that he had Russian citizenship much earlier.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate has denied the information that its Metropolitan Onufriy holds a Russian passport. Metropolitan Onufriy stated that he has renounced his Russian citizenship.