The court decided to return the electronic bracelet to UOC Metropolitan Theodosius

On August 8, 2024, the Sosnovsky District Court of Cherkassy held a regular court hearing on one of the criminal cases against Metropolitan Theodosius (Snigiryov) of Cherkassy and Kanev. The prosecution demanded to award the bishop a 24-hour house arrest, but the court made a different decision. This is reported by the site “Suspilne.Cherkasy”.

It is reported that Metropolitan Theodosius joined the court session online. The lawyer of the UOC bishop stated the invalidity of the charges brought by the prosecutor, recalling that his client recently underwent heart surgery. Nevertheless, the prosecutor in the case advocated for a tougher preventive measure, due to the fact that, in her opinion, Metropolitan Theodosius will hide from the investigation.

“The measure of restraint that was until 27.07 was not extended, but since we have the conclusion of a medical institution that nothing critical threatens his life. Therefore, there are risks that he will hide,” – said the Prosecutor Kostenko.

In turn, the lawyer of Metropolitan Theodosius drew the court’s attention to the fact that the bishop has not violated the prescriptions established for him even once, so he considers the requirements of the prosecutor’s office excessive.

“What the prosecutor’s office refers to: that the prosecuting authority has strong evidence to impose such preventive measures. But the prosecutor and should refer to this evidence. “We have something, but we won’t show it to you”, that’s what it looks like. “The defendant has Ukrainophobic settings” – what the prosecutor had, we do not know. Settings is a term that can be applied to a gadget, not a person. Where did the prosecutor get the idea that Theodosius speaks ill of the Ukrainian population and government? Also, how does martial law relate to the crime my client is charged with? During the consideration of this case, at no time did my client violate the regulations that the court noted. Therefore, I consider the motion of the prosecutor’s office illogical,” – said the bishop’s lawyer.

As a result of the meeting, the court decided to apply a measure of restraint in the form of house arrest at night from 22:00 to 06:00 in the morning with electronic means of control.

We will remind, earlier we reported that on May 7, 2024 the judge of the Solomensky district court of Kiev chose a measure of restraint for the hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Metropolitan of Zaporizhzhya and Melitopol Luke (Kovalenko). The bishop was granted night house arrest and wearing an electronic bracelet for two months.