Court extends pre-trial detention of UOJ journalist Andriy Ovcharenko
Andriy Ovcharenko in court. Photo: UOJ
On September 11, 2024, the Solomiansky District Court of Kyiv considered a petition by SBU investigator O. Savenko to extend the pre-trial detention of Orthodox journalist Andriy Ovcharenko. According to a UOJ correspondent, Judge O. Mozolevska granted the prosecution's request, despite the fact that the investigator had previously been removed from the case.
"Currently, the body initiating the extension (of pre-trial detention, β Ed.) is illegitimate in this criminal case," the journalist's defense attorney pointed out to the judge. He suggested postponing the hearing for 72 hours or more to correct this procedural flaw.
However, the judge proceeded to consider the petition from Investigator Savenko, who had been removed from the case on September 9 due to bias, and extended Andriy Ovcharenko's detention by another two months.
The defense also requested the prosecutor's removal, arguing that the case materials presented by the prosecution disclosed the personal data of participants, which should only be accessible to the judges.
Judge Mozolevska ignored this violation as well and rejected the defense's request.
During the hearing, Andriy Ovcharenko once again pointed out the lack of concrete evidence from the prosecution. The UOJ journalist also explained to the judge that he has been suffering from serious spinal problems for several years, and according to medical advice, he needs to maintain his health with medication and various specialized preventive treatments.
"They have stolen six months of my life, my health has deteriorated," he said. Ovcharenko added that he has been unable to undergo an MRI procedure for four months. His transportation to a medical facility was ignored three times. On one occasion, he was taken out of the pre-trial detention center only to be immediately brought back. The convoy informed him that the decision had been canceled.
The journalist asked the judge to consider his lawyers' petition regarding his medical care and to grant his right to receive the necessary medical treatment.
πππ You can help Orthodox journalists by donating via the following details:
MONOBANK CARD NUMBER:
5375 4114 3203 1495
We really need your help! πππ
As the UOJ previously reported, UOJ journalists have written to U.S. Senator James Vance.
Read also
In Spain, murderer moved to women's prison after claiming to be female
A Spaniard convicted of a series of brutal murders has secured a transfer to a women's prison allegedly based on a change of gender identity.
Georgian Patriarchate warns about fake social media pages
The Georgian Orthodox Church has stated that unknown individuals are using official symbols to create fake social media pages.
Court extends round-the-clock house arrest for Metropolitan Arseniy
The Chechelivsky Court of Dnipro left the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra under house arrest and allowed him to attend medical procedures without separate permission.
OCU shows number of parishioners in seized church of Bezuhlivka
About 15 people with flags stood at the first "service" at St. Michael's Church after the seizure.
In Kyiv, OCU and UGCC Ρhaplains given an introductory tour of synagogue
Ukraine’s chief rabbi said that clergy of the OCU, UGCC, and RCC familiarized themselves with Jewish tradition at a synagogue.
OCU outraged that Lepliavo parish removed church property before seizure
The Cherkasy Eparchy of the OCU complained that after the fake “transfer” in Lepliavo, UOC faithful left them nothing but bare walls.