Viktor Pivovarov's assistant has been released under house arrest.

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Hieromonk Jonah, assistant to Archbishop Viktor Pivovarov of the Russian Orthodox Church, has been placed under house arrest and is prohibited from using the telephone or the internet.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on November 27, armed masked men took monetary donations and documents from Archbishop Viktor Pivovarov of the Russian Orthodox Church's church, after which they took his assistant, Ilya Sigida, with them. The latter's mother was informed that he was being detained in connection with a criminal case for discrediting the army.

"On November 28, security forces brought my son home with an ankle monitor to track his movements. He is prohibited from using the phone or using the internet. Ilya was placed under house arrest," Tatyana, mother of Hieromonk Jonah (Ilya Sigida), told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"The preventive measure is in effect until January 20. Then the trial will take place. "And the criminal case was opened for previous articles on the church website," she added.

Parishioner Igor told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that after the hieromonk's arrest, the church website stopped working that same evening, and all information disappeared. "I don't know what exactly happened, but I must assume that security forces hacked the site, gaining access by confiscating Sigida's phone and computer. I can say that many parishioners learned about this and were very upset, because the site was visited by many, and for many, it was a place where they could breathe the air of truth. "Now all that remains of the website is the cover," he said.

According to data as of 2:00 a.m. Moscow time today, November 29, the church website was indeed down.

Parishioners continue to come to the church to help the elderly clergyman, Viktor. "Jonah used to look after Vladyka, but now they've taken away his last support. Previously, the authorities abused Vladyka himself, and now they're abusing his assistant," parishioner Lyudmila told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Viktor Pivovarov told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by telephone: "What's happening is no secret to me. What's happening now is described in the holy books. But despite everything, we must not be afraid and maintain good spirits and faith in the best."

The Russian Orthodox Church (RosOC) is a religious association of non-canonical Orthodoxy of the Russian tradition, operating in Russia and the former USSR. It does not have Eucharistic communion (joint celebration of liturgies) with the Moscow Patriarchate or with any of the local Orthodox churches, according to the Modern Russian Encyclopedia.