Dnipr, Dnipropetrovsk Province, Ukraine, November 8, 2024
Photo: svlavra.church.ua
An appeals court in Dnipr has denied the release of His Eminence Metropolitan Arseny of Svyatogorsk from a pre-trial detention center, even after a member of Ukraine’s Parliament offered to act as guarantor for the hierarch so he could be released on bail.
A hearing on November 6 reviewed the hierarch’s continued detention, which was extended for two more months by a lower court decision in October, reports the Holy Dormition-Svyatogorsk Lavra, where Met. Arseny serves as abbot.
The Metropolitan was initially detained in late April, just before Holy Week. He is accused of revealing Ukrainian army positions to Russian troops via a homily from September 2023 in which he mentioned a roadblock checkpoint that was preventing pilgrims from reaching the monastery. His initial detention was set for 60 days, but the court has continually extended it. It is noteworthy that the checkpoint was no longer at the mentioned location by the time the video was published.
During the hearing on Wednesday, People’s Deputy Victoria Grib offered to act as the Metropolitan’s personal guarantor. She also informed the court that at least ten other Parliament members from various political parties were willing to vouch for his release.
In a particularly controversial aspect of the case, the court once again refused to view the video that triggered the criminal proceedings against His Eminence. Defense lawyers pointed out that this video, which they maintain shows no criminal activity, has been consistently avoided by judges at every level of the proceedings.
The defense team believes judges are intentionally avoiding watching the video, as it keeps happening in court sessions at all levels.
Despite the significant political support for his release and questions about the evidence against him, the appeals court upheld the detention order. The Metropolitan’s case will continue with the next hearing scheduled for November 19.
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