Lawyers filed complaints with the State Bureau of Investigations and police over the TCC abduction of a UOC cleric in Lutsk
Archpriest Nikita Chekman reported on new legal steps taken in the case of the forcible abduction of Archpriest Vasily Gel by masked individuals in Lutsk.
The legal team of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has taken a number of legal steps in the case of Archpriest Vasily Gel, rector of the Holy Trinity Church in the village of Stari Koshary of the Volyn Diocese, against whom TCC officers applied unlawful use of force. This was reported by UOC lawyer Archpriest Nikita Chekman.
The lawyer emphasized that the purpose of the measures taken is to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances of the incident, as well as to provide a legal assessment of the actions of the officials involved.
As Archpriest Nikita reported, the lawyers sent requests to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Volyn Regional TCC and SP demanding information on the legality of the officers' actions, their authority, and the grounds for the use of physical force.
In addition, statements regarding a criminal offense under Article 146 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine ("Unlawful deprivation of liberty or abduction of a person") have been submitted to the State Bureau of Investigations and the National Police of Ukraine. The defense requests that the information be entered into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations and that a pre-trial investigation be initiated.
The lawyers also filed a complaint with the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the violation of the clergyman's constitutional rights, the right to liberty and personal inviolability. The complaint includes a request to conduct parliamentary oversight and provide a legal assessment of the officials' actions.
"No official can be above the Law, and any manifestations of arbitrariness, violence, or abuse of authority must receive an appropriate legal assessment regardless of position, status, or departmental affiliation," emphasized Archpriest Nikita Chekman.
He added that the defense continues to gather evidence, interview witnesses, analyze video recordings, and prepare new procedural documents.
As the UOJ previously reported, a video appeared online showing unidentified masked individuals forcibly detaining the rector of the Holy Trinity Church in the village of Stari Koshary of the Volyn Diocese, Archpriest Vasily Gel.
