Amsterdam: Ukraine uses judiciary as an instrument of torture of UOC clergy
Metropolitan Longin (Zhar). Photo: x.com/robertamsterdam
On October 31, American lawyer Robert Amsterdam responded to the situation during a court hearing involving Metropolitan Longin of Bancheny. The human rights advocate wrote on his X account, condemning the Ukrainian authorities’ use of the judicial system as a tool for torturing and intimidating clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC).
“We are informed that Metropolitan Longin, who has long suffered serious medical ailments, experienced a heart attack during one of his extended hearings related to his show trial. He was rushed to emergency care,” he informed his followers.
Robert Amsterdam emphasized his belief that the charges brought against Metropolitan Longin and other clergymen are false.
“We completely denounce these false charges brought against Longin and others, and denounce Ukraine's use of the judicial system as an instrument of torture and intimidation of the UOC clergy.,” the lawyer stated. “President Zelenskyy should hang his head in shame over the abuse and mistreatment of Orthodox Christians which has been enabled by Law 3894.”
As previously reported by the UOJ, the defender of the UOC hierarch noted that Metropolitan Longin’s health has significantly deteriorated during the court proceedings.
Read also
OCU “hierarch” selling fake ID documents sent to pre-trial detention center
The Ivano-Frankivsk court has chosen a preventive measure for the OCU "bishop" suspected of issuing fictitious ordination certificates for the rank of deacon to evade mobilization.
Court postpones hearing in Upper Lavra case
The next hearing on the issue of allowing the brethren of the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery of the UOC access to the churches of the Upper Lavra will take place on March 12, 2026.
In Chernihiv, Jehovah’s Witness believer sentenced to 5 years for AWOL
The Kozelets District Court of Chernihiv Region found the man guilty of unauthorized abandonment of a military unit and sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment.
DESS initiates lawsuit to liquidate Korets Monastery
The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) is seeking the liquidation of the Holy Trinity Korets Convent of the UOC.
His Beatitude Onuphry serves litiya for fallen soldiers
On the fourth anniversary of the full-scale war, the Primate of the UOC led a memorial service and blessed church-wide prayers for peace and for Ukraine’s defenders.
Zelensky prays with Jews, Muslims, Catholics, OCU, and UGCC at Kyiv Sofia
At the event in St. Sofia of Kyiv, Sheikh Ahmed Tamim asked Allah for “victory over the enemy for the sake of Muhammad, Jesus, and Moses.”