The head of the UOC-MP Onufriy confirmed that he only has a Ukrainian passport and has never applied to other states for citizenship. This was reported by the spokesperson of the UOC-MP, Metropolitan Clement, in a comment for 'Suspilne'.
'Onufriy will defend his rights as a citizen of Ukraine and has every right to challenge this decree. Decisions on the termination of citizenship are subject to certain legal doubts'
Recall that according to the SBU materials, Orest Berezovskyi, known as Metropolitan Onufriy, lost his Ukrainian citizenship by the decision of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. It was found that Onufriy obtained Russian citizenship in 2002 and later did not inform Ukrainian authorities about this, remaining a citizen of Ukraine and continuing to use a Ukrainian passport.
Investigation into UOC-MP Clergy
It was also found that several clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (MP) hold Russian passports. Among them are the head of the UOC-MP Onufriy, Tulinchin Metropolitan Ionafany, and Ladiyzhin Bishop Serhii.
The Information and Educational Department of the UOC-MP published a statement from Onufriy in which he renounced Russian citizenship. Later he admitted that he has a Russian passport but does not consider himself a citizen of Russia.
All this is happening against the backdrop of escalating relations between Ukraine and Russia, which affects the socio-political situation in the country.