State investigators open criminal case over child abuse at convent seized by defrocked Orthodox priest

The Sverdlovsk Region’s Investigative Committee branch has launched a criminal investigation into child abuse at the Sredneuralsk Women’s Monastery, a convent outside of Yekaterinburg that was taken over by its founder, recently defrocked Orthodox priest Sergii Romanov, in June. 

State investigators opened the criminal case under two separate articles of the criminal code: in particular, under accusations of torture of two or more minors, as well as neglect.

According to the investigation, from 2004 to 2019, children on the monastery’s property suffered systematic beatings and had other violent actions committed against them. Seven children are considered victims of torture, four of whom were injured while at the monastery without their parents, the investigation reports.

On the Russian Orthodox Church’s website, it says that Holy Synod blessed the opening of the Sredneuralsk Women’s Monastery in April 2005. Before that, the monastery had been under construction for three years. The Investigative Committee didn’t specify whether or not any crimes were committed during that time.

At the end of July, TV host Ksenia Sobchak released a film about the Sredneuralsk Monastery, which includes interviews with former novices at the convent, who discuss violent incidents during their childhoods. During filming on June 27, Sergii Romanov’s supporters attacked Sobchak and her film crew on the monastery’s grounds; documentary director and former Meduza journalist Sergey Erzhenikov suffered a broken wrist. 

Sergii Romanov is a former Schema-Hegumen of the Russian Orthodox Church and one of the most well known priests in Russia’s Ural region. In May, he was banned from conducting religious services due to his radical views on the coronavirus epidemic. On June 16, he seized the Sredneuralsk Women’s Monastery with the help of Cossacks and overthrew the Mother Superior.

In July, Sergii Romanov was defrocked and fined 90,000 rubles ($1,155) for spreading false information about the coronavirus. He has continued to conduct religious rites and services regardless.