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Marko Zharkov, a student at the Academy of Arts and Conservation of the Serbian Orthodox Church, declared that he was ready to confront Bishop Stefan (Saric), assistant to Patriarch Irinej, before the Church Court, whom, according to him, he was behind of his abduction. Zharkov requested an appointment with the patriarch at the Patriarchate of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and also handed over all the documentation of the police and prosecutor’s investigation, which he claims proves that Bishop Stefan is behind his abduction.
“I am here because of Patriarch Irinej’s allegation that he knows nothing about my abduction and that Bishop Stefan is involved in it,” Zharkov said at a press conference in front of the Patriarchate in Belgrade.
He said he hopes the Church, through its canonically regulated systems, will impose sanctions and get “a clear face from all of this, because it is unfair for an honorable and God-inspired institution to suffer for the criminal actions of a bishop.”
I must also emphasize that we live in a state that is governed by the Constitution and the law, and I absolutely believe that the Judiciary will be able to fight for justice in this case. If I didn’t believe, I wouldn’t even take care of them. I would like to say that I am absolutely ready to go face to face with Bishop Stefan Saric in front of the church court, to confirm all of this, to be confronted and to present only the truth, “Zharkov said.
He also stated that he continued to receive threats and that he feared for his safety.
He praised the police team for arresting the kidnapping suspects within 48 hours, stating that he believes the judiciary will solve that problem.
It should be remembered that two members of the Intervention Unit of the Serbian Interior Ministry and a civilian kidnapped Žarkov on February 8 and took him to Batajnica, near the bank of the Danube, threatening to end up in the river next time.
Zharkov reported the case the next day, and two police officers were immediately arrested and suspended, and allegedly confirmed that it was Bishop Stefan who hired them.
The student claims that the reason for the kidnapping was his personal conflict with Bishop Stefan over the girl.
The church has not yet ruled on this case.
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