Release of Metropolitan Arseniy – result of U.S. pressure, Greek media say

Metropolitan Arseniy. Photo: Sviatohirsk Lavra

The recent release of Metropolitan Arseniy of Sviatohirsk from custody and his transfer to round-the-clock house arrest was not merely a judicial decision, but the result of intense and coordinated political pressure from the United States. This was reported by the Greek Orthodox publication Romfea.

The outlet refers to a statement by international lawyer Robert Amsterdam, published on the social media platform X. According to him, the release of the Ukrainian hierarch was the outcome of a broad campaign in which the American side played the leading role.

Amsterdam publicly thanked all participants in the “UOC Congressional Day of Action” – a targeted lobbying effort within the U.S. Congress – and also mentioned Republican politicians Catherine Whiteford and Stefano Forte. According to Romfea, the very fact that these individuals were named indicates that the hierarch’s case was brought to decision-making centers in Washington.

The Greek publication emphasizes that when the U.S. Congress – the principal sponsor of Ukraine’s defense efforts – raises concerns about religious freedom, Kyiv is compelled to respond. The involvement of figures with access to the American political arena transformed what had been a local court case into an international diplomatic issue, and the continued detention of the metropolitan was becoming a political liability for the Zelensky government.

As a reminder, on February 25 the Chechelivskyi District Court of Dnipro changed the preventive measure for the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra from detention in custody to round-the-clock house arrest until April 25, 2026. Metropolitan Arseniy had spent nearly two years behind bars – since April 25, 2024.

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