Trial of Metropolitan Arseniy continues for more than a day and a half

Metropolitan Arseniy at the meeting. Photo: press service of the Sviatohirsk Lavra

On October 31, 2025, the Sobornyi District Court of Dnipro continued its hearing of the prosecutor’s motion to impose pretrial detention on Metropolitan Arseniy, abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, reports the Lavra’s official website.

Judge Olha Konoplenko scheduled the hearing for 10:00 a.m., although at 9:45 a.m. that same day, the Shevchenkivskyi District Court had planned to consider the defense’s complaint regarding the unlawful detention of Metropolitan Arseniy. The court ruled that the hierarch should be brought to the Shevchenkivskyi court, where two defense lawyers were waiting. However, SBU representatives stated that he would not be transported there. The hearing took place in his absence, and the court left the lawyer’s complaint without consideration. A second Shevchenkivskyi court session on the complaint of another lawyer was scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

At 10:00 a.m., Judge Konoplenko opened the Sobornyi court session. Due to the absence of defense lawyers, it was decided to continue the hearing after their arrival from the Shevchenkivskyi court. Around noon, when one of the lawyers arrived, the judge resumed reviewing the case materials. The defense requested a break at 1:00 p.m. to allow Metropolitan Arseniy to join the Shevchenkivskyi court session via video link. The judge denied the motion.

After four hours, the defense asked for a break for a meal. At 2:00 p.m., a 20-minute recess was declared. Another defense lawyer arrived from the Shevchenkivskyi court. A third lawyer, hospitalized in Kyiv, joined the hearing via video link and informed the court that he had filed a motion to remove the prosecutor through the electronic court system. The prosecutor remained in the courtroom as a public observer.

Around 8:00 p.m., the defense requested the removal of the new prosecutor. The court denied the request. During the session, an air raid alert was announced. The judge stated that the hearing would resume after the all-clear signal, and the lawyers went to shelter.

At 10:00 p.m., despite the fact that the alert had not been lifted (!), the judge resumed the session. Metropolitan Arseniy and Verkhovna Rada member Viktoriya Hryb, who was present as a guarantor, requested that the hearing be postponed to another day. The judge refused.

A lawyer from Kyiv reported a deterioration in his health due to an allergic reaction to medication. The judge insisted he continue to participate. The lawyer stated he could not provide effective legal assistance and disconnected.

The judge ordered the appointment of a lawyer from the Center for Free Legal Aid. The hearing was suspended until his arrival. The new lawyer arrived at midnight and was given half an hour (!) to review the case materials.

Around 12:40 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, the judge reopened the session. The new lawyer requested time for a confidential conversation with Metropolitan Arseniy. Around 3:30 a.m. (!), the judge resumed the hearing. The lawyer requested a postponement, citing Metropolitan Arseniy’s health condition and the need to examine the case in detail. The judge granted the request, and the hearing ended around 4:00 a.m. on November 1.

At 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, the hearing resumed. Faithful of the UOC and clergy gathered in the courtroom. As of 5:30 p.m., the session was still ongoing.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that three separate court proceedings related to Metropolitan Arseniy were being held on the same day.

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