Ukraine slaps sanctions on senior clerics in pro-Moscow church

Dec 3 (Reuters) – Ukraine is slapping sanctions on 10 senior clerics linked to a pro-Moscow church on the grounds they agreed to work with Russian occupation authorities or justified Moscow’s invasion, the safety service stated on Saturday.

The announcement is the newest in a collection of steps in opposition to a Ukrainian department of the Orthodox Church linked traditionally to Moscow. The Orthodox Church in Russia itself backs the warfare.

In an announcement, the safety providers stated the ten clerics had variously agreed to cooperate with occupation authorities, promoted pro-Russian narratives and justified Russian navy aggression in Ukraine.

Many of the clerics – all both members of the church or intently linked to it – reside in territories managed by Russia or are overseas, the service stated.

“The Safety Service of Ukraine continues to hold out complete work on the safety of Ukrainian statehood and can proceed to show individuals who threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” it stated.

The Ukrainian department formally severed ties with the Russian Orthodox Church final Could, however continues to be mistrusted by many Ukrainians and accused of secret co-operation with Russia.

The sanctions, which final for 5 years, will freeze the belongings of these on the listing, block them from exporting capital from Ukraine and stop them from proudly owning land.

The safety service has additionally carried out a number of raids on parishes and buildings linked to the church, which says it has at all times adopted Ukrainian legal guidelines.

Orthodox Christians make up the vast majority of Ukraine’s 43 million folks. For the reason that collapse of Soviet rule, competitors has been fierce between the Moscow-linked church and an unbiased Ukrainian church proclaimed quickly after independence.

Reporting by David Ljunggren;
Modifying by Sandra Maler

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Rules.