Cherkasy court accuses OCU of exerting pressure on judiciary

Cherkasy "Metropolitan" I. Yaremenko. Photo: Facebook of the Cherkasy Eparchy of the OCU

In Cherkasy, the Sosnivskyi District Court accused the Cherkasy administration of the OCU of attempting to exert pressure on the judiciary.

According to the court's press service, on June 5, 2025, local media reported that the Cherkasy administration of the OCU signed a complaint to the High Council of Justice regarding the actions of Sosnivskyi District Court Judge Oleksandra Homeniuk. The complaint concerns the consideration of a criminal case against one of the priests of the Cherkasy Eparchy of the UOC, who is accused of committing criminal offenses under Article 161, parts 2 and 3 of Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The court believes that the actions of the Cherkasy administration of the OCU, including calls for citizens to address the High Council of Justice with similar complaints, "contain signs of interference in the administration of justice and pressure on the court".

The judicial authorities are particularly concerned by the fact that the case is ongoing and is in its final stages.

In response to the actions of the OCU, the presiding judge is preparing an appeal to the High Council of Justice regarding interference in the administration of justice by the church organization.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy accused the local "hierarch" of the OCU of stealing a bishop's staff, as well as other personal belongings.

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