White Brotherhood leaders sentenced (02/18/96)

White Brotherhood leaders sentenced

by Marta Kolomayets
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - Three leaders of a doomsday cult, the White Brotherhood, were sentenced to prison terms on February 9 - almost one year after their trial began here in Ukraine's capital city.

The self-styled prophets, who had predicted the world would end on November 14, 1993, and instructed their followers to witness Armageddon by gathering at St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, were all present when the verdict was handed down at Kyiv City Court by Judge Liudmyla Boholubska.

While a handful of White Brotherhood supporters wept openly in the courtroom, Maryna Kryvonohov, 35, who answers only to the name of Maria Devi Khrystos and claims to be the "living God," received a four-year sentence for seizing public property when on November 10, 1993, she and cult members invaded the 11th century cathedral, and for endangering the welfare of her followers, most of whom were minors.

Her ex-husband, Yuriy Kryvonohov, 44, who goes by the name of Ioann z Vamy (John is with you) and who created the messiah Maria Devi Khrystos, was given a seven-year sentence. Besides the above-mentioned charges, he was found guilty also of inciting and causing public disorder and resisting arrest.

The third leader of the cult, Vitaliy Kovalchuk, 29, who calls himself Apostle Peter II, an "archbishop" of the cult, received a sentence of six years on similar charges.

Both men will serve their time in a high-security prison, while Ms. Kryvonohov will serve in a prison for first-time offenders, the location of which was not disclosed.

Judge Boholubska spent almost three hours reading excerpts of the evidence from the marathon court-proceedings. Ms. Kryvonohov, dressed in her signature white robe and turban, remained silent as the judge handed down her verdict, but both men leaped to their feet and protested when their sentences were announced.

Leaders "bless" followers

"The court is executing the will of those who hate God," yelled Mr. Kryvonohov. "You are afraid of God," he screamed to the packed courtroom. As the three convicted prisoners, all dressed in white, were led from the courtroom, they raised their arms, giving a "blessing" to their followers.

The three cult leaders can appeal the court's ruling to the Supreme Court of Ukraine.

State Prosecutor Hanna Muluin told a local newspaper, Vechirniy Kyiv (Evening Kyiv), that she believes the sentence is insufficient for the crimes committed.

Thus, it can be expected that both sides will appeal the ruling.

Reuters reported that the three defendants were also fined the equivalent of $300 for damage caused to St. Sophia Cathedral when they seized it and sprayed icons with fire extinguishers during a scuffle with police in 1993.

Among those witnessing the court proceedings that day were Ms. Kryvonohov's teenage son, Vitaliy, and Mr. Kovalchuk's aging mother.

Cult founded in 1990

Mr. Kryvonohov, once a cybernetics engineer in Kyiv, founded the cult in 1990 as a civic organization, the Center for Self-Discovery and Higher Yoga. He traveled throughout Ukraine and other parts of the Soviet Union, and preached his religion, which included hypnosis.

One of his first converts was Maryna Tsvihun, a dark-haired, pretty young woman, who was studying journalism and worked at the Donetske City Komsomol. By 1992, he had married her and proclaimed her God - in the form of Maria Devi Khrystos. Soon they had quite a following, mostly among youth from all parts of the former Soviet Union.

Youths converged on Kyiv

In the summer of 1993 they began predicting the end of the world. Youths - hypnotized by the White Brotherhood leaders - followed them to Kyiv, where the leaders had hoped to gather 144,000 followers to witness the suicide of Maria Devi Khrystos. She was to be sacrificed at St. Sophia Cathedral and, a few days later, the "apostles" - her followers - were to witness her resurrection.

A few hundred youths did converge on Kyiv in November 1993, only to be taken into custody by Ukrainian police. Hundreds of mothers came to the capital city, hoping to find their runaway children who had joined the cult, which promised salvation through starvation and a strict regimen of various prayers and chants.

On November 10, 1993, the three cult leaders were arrested as they tried to seize St. Sophia Cathedral to prepare for the end of the world. They have been in prison since that time.

At the opening of the trial on March 1, 1995, Maria Devi Khrystos denounced her husband, saying he was Satan, and told the court of her intentions to divorce him.

Mr. Kryvonohov told the court that day that "only God can absolve me, and if need be, condemn me."

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