Amsterdam: Do not speak of democracy while priests are tortured in Ukraine

Robert Amsterdam. Photo: cyclowiki.org

On November 29, 2025, Robert Amsterdam, the international lawyer for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, commented on reports in the social network X about the disrupted hearing in the second criminal case against Metropolitan Arseniy, abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, following a sudden deterioration in his health condition.

Having received information about what was happening in the courtroom, Amsterdam issued a harsh statement: “Please stop talking about Ukraine as democratic as they torture innocent priests out of some form of sick ethno-nationalism!”

It should be noted that Metropolitan Arseniy’s condition worsened directly during the session held on November 28 in the Sobornyi District Court of Dnipro. The hearing concerned the removal of the investigator, but it was accompanied by serious violations of the defense’s procedural rights. The hierarch experienced a sudden spike in blood pressure, an ambulance was called, and medics provided primary care right in the courtroom.

The proceedings began with a lengthy delay and with significant irregularities. After the metropolitan’s condition worsened, the hearing was postponed; nevertheless, the investigator scheduled a new forced transport of the hierarch for November 29 for “unclear procedural actions.”

Lawyers note that the defense’s motions are being unjustifiably delayed – in particular, the motion to remove the investigator has not been considered for more than ten days, while prosecutorial motions are granted promptly. This, according to the defense team, calls into question the impartiality of the judicial process.

Earlier, the UOJ reported Amsterdam’s remarks that Ukrainians desperately want peace and a ceasefire.

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