Priest Accused Of Espionage

He is being wrongfully arrested.

According to the rights advocacy group Forum 18, a Ukrainian priest named Reverend Kostiantyn Maksimov is facing the prospect of a 12-year imprisonment following a secretive trial conducted by Russian occupiers, a move deemed in violation of international law. Maksimov, aged 40, is a member of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) and has been charged with espionage under Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code.

The charges against Maksimov allege that he provided information to Ukrainian security services regarding the coordinates of Russian air defense equipment situated in the occupied city and district between April 2022 and February 2023. Prior to his arrest, Maksimov served as an orthodox priest at the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Tokmak city, which is now under Russian occupation in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Maksimov’s ordeal began when he was detained by Russian forces in May while attempting to cross into occupied Crimea from Chongar town. For the past ten months, there has been no information regarding his well-being until the recent announcement of his trial. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, pro-Russian politician Vladimir Rogov preemptively declared Maksimov guilty via his Telegram channel on March 31.

Forum 18 asserts that the trial violates international law, as an occupying force is not authorized to enforce its laws in occupied territories. This position is supported by the laws of occupation established at The Hague in 1907, including Article 43, which mandates respect for existing laws in occupied territories.

Despite Forum 18’s repeated inquiries, Russian authorities have not disclosed further details about the trial, including the trial date, legal representation, or Maksimov’s current location. Conflicting information has arisen regarding the trial’s venue, with some sources citing the Zaporizhzhia Regional Court in Melitopol, while others claim it is the Crimean Supreme Court in Simferopol.

Reverend Vladimir Saviisky, a colleague of Maksimov’s, condemned the secretive nature of the trial, drawing parallels to his own experiences with Russian pressure. Saviisky, who resisted attempts to subjugate his church to the Russian Orthodox Church, ultimately fled to Ukrainian-controlled territory.

Artyom Sharlay, head of the Religious Organizations Department at Zaporizhzhia Regional Administration, previously alleged that Maksimov opposed the affiliation of the Berdyansk Diocese with the Russian Orthodox Church, which assumed control in May 2023.

The plight of Ukrainian Orthodox priests in Russian-occupied territories has gained international attention, with organizations like Christian Daily International shedding light on their struggles.