Lawyers of Metropolitan Arseniy once again demand recusal of judge

Hearing in the case of Metropolitan Arseniy. Photo: Sviatohirsk Lavra website

On September 24, 2025, another hearing was held in the Sloviansk City District Court of Donetsk Region in the case of the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, Metropolitan Arseniy, the monastery’s press service reported.

At the start of the session, the new prosecutor presented inaccurate information about the movement of procedural documents, after which the defense filed a motion to have him removed. The court rejected this request.

Judge Tatyana Khaustova then reviewed motions from the defense to annul the order of the head of the prosecutor’s office concerning a change of the prosecutorial group and to return the indictment. Both motions were denied.

Afterwards, the court proceeded to consider the prosecution’s motion to extend the measure of restraint imposed on Metropolitan Arseniy, which is set to expire on September 29. Although some of the lawyers were absent due to an air raid alert, the judge refused to grant a recess. Because of this, the defense filed a motion to have the judge recused.

The date for reviewing the recusal motion will be scheduled separately.

On September 25, the Dnipro Court of Appeal was also due to consider appeals from the lawyers against the decision of the lower court, under which Metropolitan Arseniy remains in custody. The hierarch has been held in the Dnipro pre-trial detention center since April 2024.

As the UOJ reported, on the day of the court hearing the faithful lifted up prayers for the abbot of the Lavra during the service in honor of the Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of Sviatohirsk.

Read also