Cherkasy court extends preventive measure against Metropolitan Theodosiy

Court hearing on the case of Metropolitan Feodosiy on December 26, 2025 Photo: Screenshot from suspilne video

On December 26, 2025, the Sosnivskyi District Court of Cherkasy extended the preventive measure against Metropolitan Theodosiy (Snihiriov) in four criminal cases for two months. This was reported by Suspilne.

Prosecutor Kateryna Kostenko filed a motion to extend the preventive measure in the form of a personal obligation for an additional two months.

Arguing her motion by citing a “risk of evading the court,” the prosecutor also stated that the hierarch “may unlawfully influence victims and witnesses in these criminal proceedings, obstruct the criminal proceedings in other ways, may commit other crimes, or continue committing the crimes of which he is accused.”

According to her, the UOC metropolitan “has pronounced Ukrainophobic views and holds a negative attitude toward the Ukrainian authorities and Ukrainian society, and toward the population as a whole.”

In response to these statements, the defense attorney, Volodymyr Yudin, accused the prosecutor of taking a purely formalistic approach.

“Apparently, the prosecution does not read previous court rulings, including the same arguments about so-called pronounced Ukrainophobic views. The preventive measure changes, but the prosecutor’s motion remains the same; only the dates change. This is a highly formalized approach. The risks cited by the prosecutor are contrived and do not correspond to reality. We ask the court to deny the motion,” the lawyer said.

Metropolitan Theodosiy supported his defense team, emphasizing: “I support my defenders and believe that there are no risks whatsoever. These accusations are like mockery directed personally at me and, through me, at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The so-called risks cited by the prosecutor are therefore groundless. I ask the court to deny the prosecutor’s motion.”

After deliberation in the judges’ chamber, the court announced the extension of the preventive measure in the form of a personal obligation for two months.

The next court hearing is scheduled for January 13.

As previously reported by UOJ, during a court session in Cherkasy, Metropolitan Theodosiy was accused of delivering an “improper sermon.”

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