Supreme Court denies UOC open hearing on appeal against DESS
Judges decide to consider UOC appeal against DESS in written proceedings.
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.
