Russia and the CIS (bbabo.net) - The defense of the ex-sheigumen Sergius, sentenced to 3.5 years in prison, could not get the decision of the Izmailovsky District Court canceled, RIA Novosti reports.

The appeal was rejected by the Moscow City Court, and the sentence remained unchanged.

Last fall, an excommunicated priest was found guilty in a case of inciting suicide. He was also convicted of arbitrariness and violation of the right to freedom of conscience.

It is reported that during the meeting of the Moscow City Court, the monk's supporters held an impromptu religious procession around the building.

The ex-shiigumen himself participated in the meeting via video link. He expressed gratitude to all those present and asked for the judge's name so that he could "pray for her 'health and all those present'."

The defense argued the need to justify Sergiy by the fact that his phrases “were taken out of context” in the edited video. The lawyer stressed that his client is being tried for the words written many years ago by the holy fathers.

bbabo.Net