Supreme Court Upholds Sanctions Against Ukrainian Orthodox Church Metropolitan for Justifying Russian Aggression

Sanctions Against Metropolitan Iosif Upheld

According to Главком: The Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court of Ukraine has ruled that sanctions imposed on Metropolitan Iosif (Oleksiy Oleksandrovych Maslenikov) are lawful, citing his justification of Russian Federation aggression and the threat of religious division within society. These measures were initially proposed by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in December 2022 and subsequently approved by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Specifically, the sanctions targeted Metropolitan Iosif of Romny and Buryn for publicly glorifying individuals who carried out armed aggression against Ukraine and for endorsing the actions of the Russian Federation and its military forces. The court noted that his conduct posed a risk of religious schism in the country. The Grand Chamber concurred with the findings of the Administrative Cassation Court, which had previously affirmed the legality of the sanctions.

Broader Context and Next Steps

In December 2022, the SBU published a list of individuals sanctioned by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC), which included Metropolitan Iosif. Lawyer Danylo Tryasov of the Leshchenko & Partners law firm observed that the revocation of citizenship often precedes the imposition of sanctions. In this context, President Zelenskyy stated in his address on July 2 that Metropolitan Onufriy could also face sanctions after losing his Ukrainian citizenship.

Danylo Tryasov, Leshchenko & Partners Law Firm

The Supreme Court's validation of the sanctions against Metropolitan Iosif underscores the Ukrainian government's ongoing efforts to counter manifestations of aggression and religious separatism. A key aspect of these measures involves monitoring the activities of religious figures who may shape public opinion and contribute to societal division. Future actions against other religious leaders, including Metropolitan Onufriy, suggest that Ukrainian authorities intend to maintain an active policy in this domain.

The recent ruling by the Supreme Court is part of a broader strategy by the Ukrainian government to combat not only religious extremism but also the influence of propaganda. For instance, just as sanctions were placed on Metropolitan Iosif for his controversial statements, a new wave of sanctions has been introduced against Russian propagandists and judges, highlighting the ongoing efforts to safeguard national security and unity in the face of external threats.