UOJ defense on torture in court: Three days in heat without food and water

UOJ journalist Valeriy Stupnitsky in court. Photo: UOJ

The defenders of Archpriest Serhiy Chertylin and the UOJ journalists described the proceedings in the UOJ case at the Solomianskyi Court building.

The hearings have been going on for the fourth day in court, and during this time the defendants have been forced to stay in cages, where they can only stand or sit without the ability to move, for 12 hours a day, even when the hearing is adjourned. Under these conditions, Orthodox journalist Valery Stupnitsky had two severe claustrophobic attacks, serious enough that the convoy was prepared to call an ambulance.

The lawyers of the UOJ journalists noted that the defendants have been without food and water this entire time.

"It is hot outside now. The water requirement for an adult is at least 2 liters, otherwise dehydration can begin. But when relatives tried to pass water to the defendants, they were denied," said the journalists' defender.

The defense also reported that UOJ employee Andriy Ovcharenko has a back condition, with relevant medical documents, and cannot remain still for so long. The judge responded that the defendant could lie down on a bench.

All these violations are taking place in a courtroom where a message from the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, against torture hangs on the wall. However, according to the lawyers, such treatment of the defendants amounts to torture.

As previously reported by the UOJ, Archpriest Serhiy's lawyer, Nikita Chekman, spoke about how the judge in this process is violating the right to defense.

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