Washington, D.C., June 27, 2024
UOC lawyer Robert Amsterdam with the persecuted Met. Theodosy of Cherkasy. Photo: spzh.live
“UKRAINE IS ENGAGED IN THE WAR CRIME OF HOSTAGE TAKING,” writes Robert Amsterdam, the international human rights lawyer who is representing the persecuted Ukrainian Orthodox Church pro bono.
His Eminence Metropolitan Theodosy of Cherkasy recently spoke about how the state launched a fourth search of his property and has opened a fifth criminal case against him after he refused to be exchanged to Russia as an enemy prisoner of war. His Eminence is again accused of inciting religious enmity, (the same charge brought against a number of bishops), which means he made public statements about the violent schismatics of the so-called “Orthodox Church of Ukraine.”
If the Ukrainian state continues this tactic, of trying to rid itself of Orthodox bishops through prisoner exchanges, then the lawyer and his team will be forced to turn to the International Criminal Court. Amsterdam writes:
FATHER [METROPOLITAN—OC] THEODOSIY, AMONG OTHERS, IS BEING WRONGFULLY PROSECUTED. I AM TOLD THAT ONLY THROUGH EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS WITH THE ENEMY STATE WOULD THE FALSE CHARGES BE DROPPED.
HE IS NOT ALONE. IF THIS TRAVESTY DOES NOT CEASE IMMEDIATELY, WE WILL PREPARE FILINGS BEFORE ICC PROSECUTORS CONCERNING THIS OUTRAGEOUS BEHAVIOR AND BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION OF WESTERN ALLIES. HOSTAGE TAKING AND HATE CRIMES ARE NO WAY FOR A GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED BY THE UNITED STATES TO BEHAVE.
He also links to an article about comments from MP Artem Dmytruk, who also expressed outrage at the pressure on Met. Theodosy to leave Ukraine.
"Searches, threats of imprisonment, and a criminal case against an innocent citizen of Ukraine because of his refusal to be exchanged! The terror and genocide of the Ukrainian people continue!” the MP writes.
“For this, the metropolitan was demanded to sign a document for exchange as a ‘PRISONER OF WAR ENEMY!’ Just think about it! To them, a citizen of Ukraine is a ‘prisoner of war enemy.’ Moreover, I highly doubt that this is an isolated case,” he exclaimed.
In another case, His Eminence Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchin, the only bishop to be convicted so far, with a 5-year prison sentence, was recently released through the intercession of Pope Francis at the request of Patriarch Kirill and permitted to travel to Belarus, from where he traveled to Moscow. He was exchanged for several Ukrainian servicemen who were being held by Russia.
The hierarch, 75, is in poor health, which has been exacerbated by the pressure of Ukraine’s persecution campaign against him.
“Serving a sentence for a metropolitan with a heart disease was tantamount to a death sentence. The defense did everything possible to ease the fate of this elderly and sick man and the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who were in captivity,” his attorney told Glavcom.
The details of his release and what would happen should the Metropolitan return to Ukraine after treatment in Moscow were not released. Just days prior, his attorney stated in court that his client was refusing to be exchanged, as he does not recognize himself as an enemy of Ukraine or prisoner of war.
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