Ombudsman responds to illegal detention of Metropolitan Arseniy

Metropolitan Arseniy of Sviatohirsk. Photo: Sviatohirsk Lavra

The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, has ordered an investigation into the illegal detention of Metropolitan Arseniy, the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, in a pre-trial detention center (SIZO). This was reported by MP Artem Dmytruk on his Telegram channel on July 18.

The MP stated that in a letter responding to his parliamentary inquiry, Dmytro Lubinets indicated that the authorized bodies would respond to the "extension of the pre-trial detention measure for the UOC hierarch by an unauthorized person."

"This is very good. We await the results of the investigation and hope that our dear Vladyka Arseniy will be released from captivity as soon as possible and finally return to the monastery to his flock!" noted Dmytruk.

The abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, Metropolitan Arseniy, has been illegally held in a SIZO without a court decision for almost a month (the pre-trial detention measure expired on June 22).

"The judges have not been able to make a decision on the pre-trial measure for Vladyka. The previous measure expired on June 22! Today is July 18," writes the MP. "I urge all international organizations, particularly the UN Human Rights Council, to pay attention to this iniquity!"

As the UOJ reported, lawyers have filed a recusal of the judge in the case of Metropolitan Arseniy.

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