Supreme Court denies UOC open hearing on appeal against DESS
The Supreme Court of Ukraine. Photo: Wikipedia
The Supreme Court of Ukraine has refused to hold a public hearing on the appeal of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the Kyiv Metropolia of the UOC against the State Service of Ukraine on Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS), reports the DESS website.
The Supreme Court judges, sitting as a panel of the Cassation Administrative Court, decided to consider the UOC appeal in written proceedings, that is, behind closed doors, on the basis of the available documents and without summoning representatives of the parties.
Earlier, the Sixth Administrative Court of Appeal refused to consider the UOC's lawsuit against DESS on its own and redirected the case to the Kyiv District Administrative Court. The lawyers of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the Kyiv Metropolia disagreed with this transfer and filed an appeal with the Supreme Court, asking it to hear their arguments in an open session. However, the panel of judges decided that the presence of lawyers and open hearings are not necessary to study the case.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Lavra's lawyer shared details about the attack on him in the courtroom.
Read also
Pope holds phone call with Putin
Pope Leo XIV discussed the humanitarian situation in Oleshky with Vladimir Putin.
"Russia will collapse", Dumenko says, predicting OCU recognition after war
The OCU head believes that Churches that have not recognized the OCU now fear Russia, but will grow bolder after Ukraine's victory.
OCU takes part in UPA anniversary events in Uzhhorod
OCU clerics "served" a memorial litia for UPA soldiers on the anniversary of its founding.
Journalist faces criminal case for insulting UOC
Police opened a criminal case against Kyiv FM journalist Bohdan Butkevych for inciting religious hatred.
UOC church in Dnipropetrovsk region village damaged in shelling
The UOC’s Church of St. John the Theologian sustained severe damage in a strike on the center of Slavianka village in Dnipropetrovsk region.
OCU head: We will never accept claims that we lack holy orders
Dumenko compared the UOC’s conditions for dialogue to Russia’s demands in peace negotiations and declared that the OCU would never acknowledge any problems with the validity of its ordinations.