Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk Province, Ukraine, December 17, 2025
Photo: Svyatogorsk Lavra
A video published by the Svyatogorsk Lavra showing the arrival of His Eminence Metropolitan Arseny of Svyatogorsk at the Dnipro courthouse on December 15 sparked outrage online.
The footage shows the hierarch, who had been previously denied hospitalization by the court, with his hands cuffed behind his back, being escorted by four security personnel.
In the comments, readers compared the treatment of Met. Arseny to that of people suspected of serious crimes that have caused national and international outrage.
Met. Arseny was recently released from detention after being held for nearly two years on baseless charges, only to be immediately re-detained on new charges.
As at previous hearings, clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church came to the courtroom on Monday to support the Metropolitan, along with Ukrainian Parliament member Victoria Grib.
The hearing considered a defense motion to change Met. Arseny’s pretrial restraint measure to something not involving detention, citing the Lavra abbot’s health condition.
Judge Tatiana Bezruk denied the motion but ordered Dnipro Multidisciplinary Hospital No. 4, located on the grounds of the detention center, to urgently conduct a medical examination of the hierarch and report back on whether he can remain in detention given his diagnosed conditions and whether he requires urgent surgical treatment.
Recall that in late September, he was told by doctors that he urgently needs heart surgery, but has been denied this treatment.
During the hearing, the judge granted motions allowing Met. Arseny to sit at a table in the courtroom rather than in a defendant’s box, and for him to participate in future hearings via videoconference.
The judge noted the presence of observers at all hearings, stating that this indicates the high-profile nature of Met. Arseny’ case.
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