Court denies DESS's request to block property of UOC Kyiv Metropolis

DESS head V. Yelensky. Photo: DESS

On October 22, 2025, the Sixth Administrative Court of Appeal, by a ruling in case No. 855/11/25, denied the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) in its application for interim measures in the case of the termination of the religious organization of the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, reports the Metropolis' lawyer, Archpriest Nikita Chekman.

DESS requested the court to prohibit the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC from disposing of its real estate it owns and from carrying out expenditure transactions on its bank accounts.

According to DESS, under the conditions of the Russian Federation's military aggression against Ukraine, "it is unacceptable for a religious organization to engage in 'anti-Ukrainian activities', including using funds to lobby the interests of the aggressor country." The Service stated that "lobbyists receiving funds from the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC" allegedly "direct their efforts to discredit Ukraine on the international stage, falsify state policy in the field of freedom of conscience, and reproduce Russian narratives." In particular, DESS referred to an interview with Robert Amsterdam, whose firm, according to the Service, receives funding from the UOC.

As noted in the statement, "it is important to preserve the property, funds, and assets of the religious organization, which are at risk of alienation by prohibiting registration actions and asset disposal."

However, the court made a lawful and fair decision in favor of the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. As a result of the review of the application, the panel of judges of the Sixth Administrative Court of Appeal concluded to deny its satisfaction.

"The state authority, which should protect the rights and legitimate interests of religious organizations, 'without trial and investigation' accuses the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC of an anti-Ukrainian position," noted Archpriest Nikita Chekman. "DESS once again demonstrated its attitude, according to which the rights of the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church have no significance and can be ignored."

The lawyer drew attention to an especially alarming point in the DESS's statement. "The Service openly admits that it intends to 'confiscate' all church property, which has been built and maintained over a long period through the donations of the faithful and is used for worship," emphasized Father Nikita.

This concerns churches, monasteries, and other objects that have been built and maintained over decades through the donations of the faithful and are used exclusively for worship and spiritual guidance of millions of Ukrainians.

"The state authority no longer even hides that it plans to deprive religious organizations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of property, similar to what happened in Soviet times," stated Archpriest Nikita Chekman. "We urge not to repeat the tragic mistakes of the past, which have already led to destructive consequences for the spiritual and cultural life of the Ukrainian people in the 20th century."

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Yelensky is upset over the progress of the court case to ban the UOC's Kyiv Metropolis.

Read also