UOC MP bishop suspected of inciting religion-based enmity sues Cherkasy TV channel

Andriy Kovalenko (Luca), Metropolitan Bishop of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol, is suing the Cherkasy-based TV channel VIKKA, the channel's CEO Serhiy Kuzlyaev reported in a Facebook post.

According to Kuzlyaev, the cleric has filed a defamation lawsuit against the channel. He demands a retraction of untrue information that he says was reported on the air of the program “Topical Talk” in December 2024. The metropolitan also insists the channel compensate him one million hryvnias.

“In that program, Cherkasy mayor Anatoliy Bondarenko, expressing his view of the Moscow Church in Ukraine, said that Metropolitan of Zaporizhzhia was working for the enemy. But it's not about Anatoliy Bondarenko’s statements. The problem lies in another thing. The Moscow Church clerics are raising their heads,” Kuzlyaev said, adding, “Well, we'll go to court, then.”

In a comment to Yelena Shchepak, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Cherkasy oblast, Serhiy Kuzlyaev clarified that Anatoliy Bondarenko is a co-defendant in the case.

The first hearing will take place on April 23. The Metropolitan's side announced that it will participate in the hearing via video call.

On May 1, 2024, the Security Service of Ukraine notified Metropolitan Luca of suspicion of inciting religion-based hatred. According to the investigation, he had publicly expressed contempt for parishioners of other denominations in conversations with his flock and during liturgies.

On December 11, 2022, the National Security and Defense Council imposed targeted sanctions against seven hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. These included Metropolitan Luca (Andriy Kovalenko) of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol (UOC MP).