UOC lawyer thanks U.S. politicians for Metropolitan Arseniy’s release

Metropolitan Arseniy in court, immediately after the decision to release him from pretrial detention. Photo: UOJ

International lawyer for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) Robert Amsterdam expressed gratitude to everyone who took part in the campaign to secure the release of Metropolitan Arseniy of Sviatohirsk from pretrial detention.

In a post on the social network X, the human rights advocate singled out Orthodox public and political figures in the United States who had defended the bishop.

According to Amsterdam, the effort to free the hierarch brought together both a legal team in Ukraine and the UOC’s international supporters.

“Metropolitan Arseniy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) has been released from jail after almost 2 years of detention without trial, and transferred to house arrest,” the UOC lawyer wrote.

Amsterdam also thanked those involved in the campaign for the bishop's release: "his local legal counsel, as well as Dr Peter Flew, all those involved in the UOC Congressional Day of Action, such as Catherine Whiteford (co-chair of the Young Republican Federation - Ed.), and Stefano Loudaros Forte (head of the New York Young Republican Club - Ed.), and the community of Sviatohirsk, which has endured bombardment to remain a source of moral and spiritual support,” Amsterdam said.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the court released Metropolitan Arseniy to house arrest.

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