This is injustice.
Rev. Kostiantyn Maksimov, a Ukrainian Orthodox priest, has been sentenced to 14 years in a harsh labor camp by the Crimean Supreme Court, under Russian control. Maksimov, 41, from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), faced allegations of espionage, specifically that he transmitted the locations of Russian air defense systems to Ukrainian security services via the internet. However, the rights organization Forum 18 argues that there is no substantive evidence to support these charges and that the harsh sentence violates international law, particularly the Geneva Convention, which requires occupying forces to respect local laws.
Maksimov’s mother, Svetlana Maksimova, expressed her shock and disappointment with the verdict and indicated her intent to appeal, though she remains skeptical about the appeal’s chances of success. She has not seen her son since December 2021 and hopes he might be included in future prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia. Forum 18 has reported that Maksimov is likely to remain in Investigation Prison No. 2 in Simferopol while awaiting the appeal process before being transferred to a labor camp.
The priest was initially arrested in May 2023 by Russian forces in Chongar while trying to cross into occupied Crimea. His trial began on June 6, more than a year after his arrest. Forum 18 has struggled to obtain details about the trial from various Russian-controlled authorities, including the Zaporizhzhia Region Prosecutor’s Office and the Crimean Supreme Court, with no responses received.
Artyom Sharlay, a Russian official involved in ethnic and religious affairs, was also contacted by Forum 18 but did not respond. Sharlay had previously noted that Maksimov opposed the integration of the Berdyansk Diocese of the UOC with the Russian Orthodox Church, a point that may have influenced the case. Maksimov’s sentencing reflects a broader pattern of increased repression against Christians in regions controlled by Russian forces.