Court shortens Metropolitan Arseniy’s time to study his case by two weeks

Metropolitan Arseniy before the new imprisonment. Photo: Sviatohirsk Lavra

On November 25, 2025, a hearing was held at the Sobornyi District Court of Dnipro regarding the second criminal case of the abbot of Sviatohirsk Lavra, Metropolitan Arseniy. The judge considered the prosecutor's motion and agreed to limit Metropolitan Arseniy and his lawyers' time to familiarize themselves with the case materials until November 28, as reported on the official website of Sviatohirsk Lavra.

Previously submitted defense motions to recuse the investigator and the investigative judge have not yet been considered. Metropolitan Arseniy himself, due to his severe health condition, was not brought to the court and was not given the opportunity to join via video link. Some of the metropolitan’s lawyers, who were outside Dnipro, also did not participate in the hearing, as they were not connected either. Despite this, the hearing was opened, and UOC faithful came to support the metropolitan.

The defense filed a motion to recuse Judge Olha Konoplenko, but it was ignored, and the hearing continued even during an air raid alert. As a result, the judge granted the prosecutor's request and reduced the time for studying the materials – more than 280 pages of text, as well as audio and video recordings – until November 28 instead of the initially set date of December 10.

According to the lawyers, this decision is aimed at complicating the filing and consideration of appeals against the preventive measure for Metropolitan Arseniy. Sessions of the Dnipro Appellate Court have already been disrupted twice due to delays in the transfer of materials from the first instance court. A new hearing date is set for December 2.

The lawyers note that the difference in the speed of consideration of the prosecution's motions and the delay with the defense's statements indicates bias on the part of the investigative judges of the Sobornyi Court. Believers are asked for prayerful support for Metropolitan Arseniy and are reminded of the possibility to assist the Lavra in the legal defense of the bishop.

Previously, the UOJ reported that lawyers reported violations during the court hearing in the Metropolitan Arseniy case.

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