Court of Appeal Keeps Metropolitan Arseniy in Custody, Refusing to Review Video Evidence

On June 4, 2025, the Dnipro Court of Appeal rejected the appeals filed by lawyers representing Metropolitan Arseniy of Sviatohirsk against the Slovyansk City Court’s decision to extend his detention. The bishop has been held in the Dnipro pretrial detention center since April 25, 2024, and his arrest term has now been extended through the end of July of this year. This information was published on the Sviatohirsk Lavra’s official website.

During the court hearing, Metropolitan Arseniy’s attorneys highlighted the absurdity and groundlessness of the charges brought against him. The defense stressed the bishop’s patriotic stance and significant contributions to the spiritual and public life of Ukraine, also pointing out his deteriorating health conditions aggravated by prolonged detention.

Metropolitan Arseniy himself addressed the court, requesting a review of the video recording of the sermon, which formed the basis of the accusation. However, the judges dismissed his request, declining to examine this crucial piece of evidence, which could have provided clarity to the case.

As previously reported, April 24 marked one year since the detention of Metropolitan Arseniy, a hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The bishop has been held in custody in the city of Dnipro since his detention by SSU officers, who issued him a suspicion of committing a criminal offense.