Yelisey, former Metropolitan of Izium and Kupiansk (UOC-MP), who fled to Russia, was served with a notice of suspicion of justifying the war and partial occupation of Ukraine.
The text of the suspicion was published on November 14, 2024, on the website of the Prosecutor General's Office, Suspilne reports.
The document states that the suspect was the Metropolitan of Izium and Kupiansk at the time of the invasion. At the end of June 2022, at a congress of priests in occupied Kupiansk on the occasion of the Day of the Prophet Elisha, the suspect spoke in support of the Russian Federation and justified armed aggression.
The text of the suspicion states that, in particular, he said in Russian: “For me, Ukraine died after 2014. My favorite flag is the Russian flag. We have to accept the fact that we have a new government, and we have nowhere to go. These are hard times, but Patriarch Kirill promised to help and support us. Console people, help people, give Russian humanitarian aid to people, do not be afraid to support and help the Russian military when they turn to you.”
The priest's actions were classified under part one of Article 436-2, punishable by correctional labor for up to two years or probationary supervision for up to three years, or imprisonment for the same term.
What is known about former Metropolitan Yelisey of Izium and Kupyansk
Metropolitan Yelisey of the UOC-MP was removed from office on September 29, 2022. During the invasion, he supported the Russian military. Yelisey participated in meetings of the occupation authorities led by the head of the Russian occupation administration in the Kharkiv region, Vitaly Ganchev. In June 2022, in a video by Russian propagandists covering the actions of the occupation authorities in the Kharkiv region, Yelisey said he opposed the decision of the UOC-MP to disagree with Patriarch Kirill and to become independent from Moscow.
After the de-occupation of most of the territory of the Kharkiv region in September 2022, Yelisey was spotted on the territory of the aggressor state. The website of the Valuyske Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church states that the Metropolitan of Izium and Kupiansk was among the “honored guests” at the opening of the exhibition “Angel of St. Belogorie” in Belgorod.
Yelisey was stripped of the title of “Honorary Citizen of Izium” in November 2022.