This document is Metropolitan Vitaly’s certified account, originally written in French and sent by his attorneys to the courts, concerning the attack on his person rendered by the representatives of the Lavrite Synod on November 22, 2001.


Translated from the Russian version by Matushka Irene Trepatschko



Deposition

On November 22, 2001, approximately 8:45 in the morning, when I was at the Holy Transfiguration Skete, in Mansonville, (Canada, editor’s addition), seated at the table with clergy and laymen, a group of people burst into the dining room. These people were not invited by anyone and no one advised us of their arrival. They forcefully burst in where no one bid them to enter. They broke the lock on the entrance door. They did not bother to announce their arrival, knock on the door, as civilized people do or ask for permission to enter. They violated the sanctity of a private residence and disturbed the course of monastic living. They persistently threatened and offended those present.

Heading the assault, was bishop Michael Donskov, (Simeon Donskov, further referred to as simply – Donskov), and priest Paul Iwaszewicz, (further referred to as Iwaszewicz), both foreigners. With them were lawyers Michel Tajfer (Michael Taillefer, further referred to as Tajfer), and Stephan Trihey, (further referred to as Trihey), aided by hired security guards. Neither the lawyers nor the hired bodyguards bothered to introduce themselves. When asked who are you, they refused not only to name themselves but did not answer, especially neglecting to explain the reason for their arrival. Some of them were recognized by those who were witnesses of prior assaults as described in other documents.

Violently bursting in, these people tried to present themselves as peace officers, and threatened to arrest, on the spot anyone who refused to co-operate. They demanded that no one move. Several times they cut the phone lines. They interfered with the use of the fax machine, whether it be to transfer documents or for copying. Lawyers went to so far as to expose themselves as police officers, and when asked if they had a warrant, they advised yes, but refused to serve it or state who had issued it. They did not produce any papers and we did not see any documents on their persons. Then without permission, Tajfer, with his accomplices, first conducted a thorough search including that floor on which afterwards would unfold the main perpetration. This illegal and humiliating search was conducted throughout all of the rooms, without any permission or explanation and without any care. At a minimum, the following were confiscated without any warning, without a receipt and without analyzing to whom they belonged: car keys, registration, my passport, my medical insurance card and a package containing documents, my will and other papers. They rummaged in my desk and through other furniture in my study. The same was done in the secretary’s study and in the reception hall.

Tajfer personally opened all of the water faucets, creating a noise to muffle all that which was to take place.

Donskov entered, but his arrival was also totally undesirable, (because of his prior improprieties), to which he was informed of.

Not paying attention to reprimands Donskov approached me. Having recognized him, I reiterated my anathema, which was previously declared more than once, orally and in writing, to which he deigned not to answer. I very clearly made him understand that I do not intend to speak with him. After falsely reporting that I, well, was not allowed to speak with him, I agreed to speak in hopes of reasoning with him. I did not know that this offer was simply a trap.

And so, I climbed to the second floor. Attorney Tajfer followed preventing me from turning back. Tajfer and Iwaszewicz threatened one of my guests for taping the actions of the attack on videotape. His camera was broken; an act representing the roughest violence perpetrated, the capture of another’s property and its destruction and the infringement on human rights. Despite this, the videocassette remained in tact, a testament to the above facts. I certify, that it fully complies with the truth and am enclosing it to this claim.

My aggressors at this point arranged a small meeting amongst themselves. My objections did not stop the meeting and were only a prelude for things to follow. They locked-up those who presently climbed up to the second floor and left one guard to guard them. Another guard also guarded the stairs. The suffering victims described this real capture in detail.

They forcibly took my wallet, with personal documents and money and returned it only after the police force of Quebec intervened. They took my car keys and returned them after a week by a middleman, Alexander Iwaszewicz.

Stopping their pretensions of wanting to talk with me, Donskov and Iwaszewicz threw themselves over me and aggressively began to dress me with the obvious purpose to draw me outside and to abduct me. I resisted as I could. They tumbled me down to the floor so that it would be easier for them to pull Iwaszewicz’s coat on me. I tried to beat them off, but their hirelings helped the two apostate clergymen. I tried to shout, but Tajfer began to choke me with a white/dark blue down pillow, which he especially brought purposely from the car for that reason.

Physical violence and threats achieved apogee when one of my companions, who just received instructions from my lawyers, decided to approach us. He yelled to Tajfer that my lawyers are with a judge, (who successfully managed to report all by phone and fax), who demanded they stop everything and to release me. Then my attackers decided at once to take me away, which they tried to do, furiously threatening me. Even after having received the order (from the judge – editors), all of them still disclosed themselves as peace officers and roughly forced me to descend downstairs.

In the dining room I noticed shocked and powerless expressions on the faces of my close friends and interlocutors. Then I started to protest against my abduction to New York, having mentioned that I am a free Canadian citizen and have committed no crimes. I persuaded my friends to protest and to photograph all of this on film. This they did: photos were taken from this moment up to the moment I was placed into the limousine. I testify to the authenticity of these photos and enclose them to this deposition.

New threats were issued at those who did not approve and doubted the legality of this operation or at those wishing to protect me. Notwithstanding, Donskov, Tajfer, Iwaszewicz and their hirelings, forcefully with improbable roughness, dragged me towards the front door. At the same time, Tajfer, with the above mentioned down pillow and Donskov, with the other case-less pillow, prohibited me from screaming. Seizing, pushing and dragging me, they simply also beat me! Donskov struck from behind my face, through a pillow. Iwaszewicz grabbed me by the right hip, so that I could not escape from Donskov, coiling, in order to free myself from the pillow and Tajfer with his fist hit me on the chest through the down pillow. I fell down. Tajfer, Donskov and some hirelings uprooted me out of the hands of those who tried to keep me from falling and keep me in their protection. I was dragged, pushed, struck from all directions up to the door of the dining room, which lead into the courtyard, where a parking lot for automobiles was located.

Amazed at Donskov’s aggression, I repeated to him an ecclesiastically retaliatory verdict, (the anathema – editors).

From the door of the dining room, they dragged me up to the cars of the kidnappers. On the way they several times dropped me to the ground, lifting me by my legs, head downwards, striking me to force me to go and dragged me as one would drag any kind of thing.

Having reached the limousine in which they were going to drive me away, (a huge black car with dark glass windows – why dark?), they forced me to climb inside. Two times I evaded, resisting or at least tried to detain the events. Blows to the head and kidneys forced me to bend, but I once again tried to evade. Finally, Donskov climbed into the car on the other side and forcefully pulled me from within. The door shut behind me.

Forcibly they held me in the car, with closed doors for an extended period of time, with the unpleasant and shameful company of Donskov and Iwaszewicz. While outside, Tajfer was on the phone discussing something. The car started to move, then stopped, bumper to bumper with the just now arrived police car. Only later, my friends’ request was granted that one police officer would sit with me for my protection.

Only with the insisting of my friends was I allowed to drink a glass of water, (the first glass being maliciously splashed out by Tajfer). My kidnappers would not agree on opening a window for some fresh air. This was done later, at the insistence of a police officer. Only a half-inch on the side of the driver was opened, by the orders of Tajfer and Trihey. Later, this privilege was granted on my side of the car, giving me more rest from the likes of Donskov and Iwaszewicz.

After lengthy negotiations and again under the insistence of the police, Tajfer, Trihey and these others, took a long time to agree to let me go to the lavatory, moreover under supervision! Again, I was obliged to the Quebec police for freeing me from the presence of Donskov, when being transferred to another car of their motorcade. The same thing was repeated, when dinner time approached; it was required that I be accompanied by two police officers in order to satisfy Tajfer and Donskov’s spiteful nature, to keep me confined in the car at all cost.

During their licentious behavior, sirs Tajfer and his colleague made many false accusations on my behalf. They insisted I was an American citizen, that I was from New York and that Iwaszewicz is my trustee. I clearly denounce all these false statements. At last, after many long hours, the police of Quebec, pending the courts decision, released us from the unbidden guests. But, despite the fact that the police had told them to keep away from the Skete, they bothered us and remained until the late of night, and the next day, with several illegal appearances, which we immediately informed the police. And still a group of attackers hid in cars on the night of the 22nd and 23rd of November 2001 on our property, in the alley leading to the Skete’s cemetery. The Royal Canadian Frontier Guard drove them off our property at two o’clock in the morning.

Also, I must add, the attackers were armed with spritzes (sprays) of a suspicious nature.

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that all actions of the attackers were premeditated and rehearsed, and they had spent the previous night in close proximity from us. A very thorough training was witnessed from all of their actions. Resources, monetary, material and human, to realize this operation are impossible for budgets in our Churches.

Their lawyers were not ashamed to break the rules of professional ethics. Illegal methods of violence are not similar to the polite behavior of the members of my church and are more of a reminder of that world from which my church departed.

I serve notice against my aggressors, named above, against their accomplices and those who gave the order, be it orally, in writing or as financial support, (direct or indirect).

I do not exclude, that (and in this case I also serve a complaint on this fact), for the realization of this operation, the aggressors used my own personal monetary funds.

I emphasize that many witnesses were present at the events of November 22, 2001. I at this time, mention only a few of these witnesses:

Bishop Varfolomei Vorobiev, Bishop Sergei Kindjakov, Bishop Vladimir Chelishev, Father Sergei Petrov, reader (engineer) Sergei Agu, engineer Peter Paganuci, engineer-architect Aldea Shturza, seminarians Ivan Byrr and Justin MacDonnell.

In addition to these witnesses, included are the members of the Quebec police and The Royal Canadian Frontier Guard, whom I wish to thank for their assistance and human servitude.

I certify, that this deposition is truthful.

Written in Mansonville, February 10/23, 2002

Signature: + Metropolitan Vitaly Ustinov



(Text written by the notary): I swear that this is my signature

Signature: + Metropolitan Vitaly Ustinov

(Text written by the notary: signed in my presence Ville de lac Brome,
Quebec, Le 12 Mars 2002)

Signature of the notary: Marie Gagne, notary

Stamp: authentic copy made from the original, March 12, 2002
Ville de lac Brome, Quebec

Signature of the notary: Marie Gagne, notary