Court begins review of Met Luke’s defamation suit against Cherkasy mayor
Mayor of Cherkasy Anatoliy Bondarenko at the Prydniprovskyi District Court of Cherkasy, May 15, 2025. Photo: vycherpno
On May 15, 2025, the Prydniprovskyi District Court of Cherkasy began reviewing a lawsuit filed by Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol against Cherkasy Mayor Anatoliy Bondarenko and the local TV channel VIKKA, seeking protection of his rights, honor, and dignity, vycherpno reports.
The UOC hierarch is demanding a retraction of false information aired by VIKKA during the “Current Conversation” program in December 2024, in which Cherkasy Mayor Anatoliy Bondarenko alleged that the Metropolitan of Zaporizhzhia is “working for the enemy.”
The preliminary hearing was postponed due to the absence of Bondarenko’s lawyer.
On May 15, a preparatory hearing commenced. The plaintiff is seeking a public retraction from Anatoliy Bondarenko for the false claims made during the TV broadcast. Additionally, the lawsuit demands symbolic compensation of 1 hryvnia from both Bondarenko and the VIKKA TV company for moral damages.
The mayor of Cherkasy and the TV channel’s editorial staff deny any wrongdoing.
The next court hearing is scheduled for June 5 at 10:00 AM.
As previously reported by the UOJ, Metropolitan Luke had earlier appealed to Ukraine’s religious leaders regarding an LGBT film festival.
Read also
Most Britons oppose abortions, poll finds
The survey found that 62% of UK residents support legal protection for unborn children from the moment their heartbeat is first detected.
Annual academic conference opens at Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary
The fifteenth annual conference was dedicated to the anniversaries of Prince Vasyl-Kostiantyn Ostrožský and Metropolitan Rafail (Zaborovský).
Feminists attack Roman Catholic churches in Latin America
During protest actions, members of radical groups attacked cathedrals in several Latin American countries, assaulted police officers, and threw paint at believers.
UOC hierarch takes part in German bishops’ conference
Bishop Veniamin of Boyarka took part in the OBKD assembly in Düsseldorf.
Ivano-Frankivsk scraps school project planned on demolished UOC church site
The authorities in Ivano-Frankivsk have dropped plans to build the school for whose construction a UOC church was demolished.
Shostatsky to UOC: If you are so righteous – do not cling to your churches
The OCU metropolitan called on UOC faithful and clergy to pray rather than defend their churches from seizures.