Pinchuk Evgeniy Igorevich (ieromonakh Nikandr)

In Verkhnyaya Tura, Sverdlovsk Oblast, in June 2022, a criminal case was opened for repeated "discrediting" of the Russian army against a clergyman, the rector of the parish of St. Simeon of Verkhoturye, Yevgeny Pinchuk (Hieromonk Nikander). The reason for the criminal prosecution was a post by hieromonk on VKontakte, in which he called the actions of the Russian military aggressive. For the duration of the investigation, the defendant in the case was released under an obligation to appear. Earlier, in March 2022, the priest was fined in a case of an administrative offense under the article on 'discrediting' the Russian army. The reason for bringing him to responsibility was a comment on a publication on VKontakte, in which Pinchuk wrote that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are illegally on the territory of the republic of Ukraine, in violation of the norms of international law, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation invaded the territory of another independent state, and considers this a crime. On October 17, 2022, the Verkhotursky District Court of the Sverdlovsk Region found Yevgeny Pinchuk guilty and sentenced him to a fine of 100 thousand. rubles. The verdict was not appealed and entered into legal force. In October 2025, a search was conducted at Pinchuk's place and he was detained. He was accused of publicly justifying terrorism or its propaganda. According to the investigation, the priest expressed respect for the founder of the nationalist organization "Russian Volunteer Corps" on social media, thereby publicly justifying the activities of this structure. On October 17, 2025, the Verkhnyaya Tura City Court of the Sverdlovsk Region granted the prosecution's motion to detain the priest.