Metropolitan Arseniy held in SIZO despite expiration of preventive measure

Metropolitan Arseniy. Photo: svlavra.church.ua

Metropolitan Arseniy (Yakovenko), abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, remains in the Dnipro pretrial detention center (SIZO) despite the expiration of his previous preventive measure on July 21. According to the Lavra’s website, no court decision has yet been made to extend his detention or to apply a different measure.

On July 17, a hearing took place in the Sloviansk City District Court of Donetsk region, where Judge Tetiana Khaustova gave the floor to the prosecutor to present a motion to extend Metropolitan Arseniy’s detention for another two months. The defense team filed a motion for the judge’s recusal, citing violations of the principles of adversarial proceedings and procedural equality of the parties.

On July 18, Deputy Chief Judge Ivan Falin reviewed the motion to recuse Judge Khaustova and denied it, despite the absence of the defense attorneys, who had not been notified of the hearing. In doing so, the judge committed several serious disciplinary violations.

On July 21, Judge Khaustova began reviewing the prosecutor’s motion to extend the preventive measure without notifying the defense. Metropolitan Arseniy refused to participate in the hearing without his lawyers. A court-appointed attorney, Olena Miroshnykova-Zahlinska, was brought in, though she was unfamiliar with the case materials and openly aligned herself with the prosecution’s position.

During the hearing, both Metropolitan Arseniy and a nearby attorney became unwell. The Lavra’s abbot had spent seven hours without food, water, medication, or fresh air in an unventilated room at the SIZO. Despite his condition, the judge was unwilling to suspend the hearing until detention center staff intervened on the hierarch’s behalf.

On July 22, Judge Falin again denied the motion to recuse Judge Khaustova. Since the preventive measure had expired, the defense submitted a request to the Chechelivskyi District Court of Dnipro for the immediate release of Metropolitan Arseniy. On July 23, the court denied the request. The decision is not subject to appeal.

Thus, the Lavra’s abbot remains in pretrial detention without a court ruling for the second time during the investigation. Last summer, he was held in the SIZO for 17 days without a court decision. The next hearing in the Sloviansk court is scheduled for August 1.

Recall that Metropolitan Arseniy has been held in the Dnipro SIZO since April 25, 2024. His defense continues the legal battle for his release and asks the faithful for prayers for the imprisoned hierarch.

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