Zelensky imposed sanctions against the head of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and the billionaire

Restrictions were imposed against ten UOC ministers for five years. They relate to the blocking of assets, a ban on the withdrawal of capital from Ukraine, restrictions on trade operations,

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky approved the decision of the National Security and Defense Council to impose sanctions against businessman Vadim Novinsky (wealth - $ 1 billion, 8th place in the Forbes ranking of the richest businessmen in Ukraine) and the governor of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Pavel (Pyotr Lebed in the world).

In addition to Novinsky, who in 2020 was ordained a deacon of the UOC by Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, and the vicar of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Pavel, sanctions were imposed against eight hierarchs:

Metropolitan of the Feodosia diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Platon (in the world Vladimir Udovenko); Metropolitan Lazarus of Simferopol and Crimean Russian Orthodox Church (Rostislav Shvets); Bishop of Bakhchisarai, Vicar of the Simferopol Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Kallinik (Konstantin Chernyshov); Bishop of Dzhankoy and Razdolnensky Alexy (Alexander Ovsyannikov); Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, Archbishop of Rovenkovsky and Sverdlovsk Arkady (Alexander Taranov); Bishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at rest, Metropolitan of Izyum and Kupyansky Elisey (Oleg Ivanov); Bishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at rest, Metropolitan of Romensky and Burynsky Joseph (Aleksey Maslennikov); Bishop of Koktebel, vicar of the Feodosia diocese of Agathon (Vyacheslav Opanasenko).

The sanctions provide for the blocking of assets, the complete cessation of trade operations, as well as transit, flights and transportation through the territory of Ukraine, a ban on the withdrawal of capital from the republic; prohibition of technology transfer, rights to objects of intellectual property rights; cessation of cultural exchanges; cancellation of official visits; deprivation of state awards of Ukraine and more.

Ukrainian authorities initiated a ban on the UOC in the country Politics

The restrictions are in effect for five years.

Control over the implementation of the decision is entrusted to the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov.

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The fact that the National Security and Defense Council imposed sanctions against several clergymen of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), including Metropolitan Pavel and Novinsky, was reported in early December by Ukrayinska Pravda.

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At the same time, Zelensky approved the decision of the National Security and Defense Council to ban religious organizations in Ukraine that are “connected” with Russia. From the text of the decree, it followed that the Ukrainian government should submit a bill to the Verkhovna Rada for consideration in two months on the impossibility of the activities in the country of religious organizations "affiliated with centers of influence in the Russian Federation."

The SBU and the police were ordered to intensify counteraction to "subversive activities carried out by the Russian special services in the religious environment in Ukraine."

Arestovich urged to behave "like reasonable people" in relation to the UOC-MP Politics

Last fall, the SBU conducted searches in the dioceses of the UOC. Metropolitan Jonathan of Vinnitsa, the ruling bishop of the Tulchin diocese, was accused of "supporting the Kremlin and inciting hatred." Later, searches took place in Alexandria, Svetlogorsk, Chernivtsi-Bukovina and other dioceses.

In the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the Holy Trinity Koretsky Monastery and the premises of the Sarnensko-Polesye diocese, “pro-Russian literature” was found, intended to promote the “Russian world” in seminaries and parish schools, the SBU reported.

The Kremlin called the actions of the Ukrainian authorities "another link in the chain of military operations against Russian Orthodoxy."

On Christmas Day, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' called on the faithful to pray for the parishioners and clerics of the UOC, “who are today being driven out of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the Lavra that for centuries has been the guardian of true, undistorted Orthodoxy.”