Court extends detention of Metropolitan Arseniy until February 2026

Metropolitan Arseniy in court on December 6, 2025. Photo: Sviatohirsk Lavra

On December 6, 2025, the Checheliv District Court of Dnipro held a hearing to determine the preventive measure for the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, Metropolitan Arseniy. The court extended his detention until February 3, 2026.

At first, the faithful who came to support the hierarch were not allowed into the courthouse, with officials citing the weekend as the reason. After the judge intervened, people were permitted inside, yet the number of attendees was limited to the available seating.

The metropolitan’s lawyers were not allowed to participate in the hearing, despite their readiness to join by videoconference. Judge Tetyana Bezruk claimed the defense had allegedly not submitted a request for online participation. Instead, a legal aid attorney was present in the courtroom, though she was unfamiliar with the case materials and declined to contact the metropolitan’s permanent defense team.

Member of Parliament Viktoriia Hryb, who had filed a statement expressing readiness to take the metropolitan on personal surety, was likewise not connected to the session.

During the hearing, Metropolitan Arseniy filed a motion to recuse the judge after being denied the opportunity to involve his own attorneys. The motion was dismissed.

Prosecutor Larysa Dalberh argued for continued detention on the grounds of the metropolitan’s “extensive connections, authority, and financial means,” claiming he could allegedly exert pressure on witnesses.

Metropolitan Arseniy did not admit guilt and asked the court to reject the prosecutor’s request.

The court consolidated two criminal cases against the hierarch into a single proceeding and extended his detention for 60 days. Statements from nine members of the Ukrainian Parliament, who requested that the abbot of the Lavra be released into their custody or that bail be set, were ignored.

The defense is preparing an appeal.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that on the anniversary of his episcopal consecration, Metropolitan Arseniy spent eleven hours in court.

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