Political analyst: Metropolitan Arseniy's consent to the exchange would be a blow to the entire UOC

Ukrainian political analyst Kostyantyn Bondarenko has said that the criminal prosecution of Metropolitan Arseniy of Sviatohorsk is a form of pressure on the entire Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In the expert’s opinion, the authorities are offering the arrested bishop a deal with the investigation, which, if he agrees, will be used to discredit the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

According to an interview with blogger Alexander Shelest, the political scientist opined that the authorities may offer Metropolitan Arseny a suspended sentence and inclusion in the exchange fund in exchange for an admission of guilt. “We send you to the exchange fund, exchange one for 30-40 of our fighters and so solve your issue. In fact, this is racketeering, when a person is ‘taken’ not for an atrocity, but to replenish the exchange fund,” Bondarenko explained.

The expert believes that the hypothetical consent of the bishop to such a deal will be the basis for new charges against the Church. According to him, after the confession of guilt it will be used to discredit the entire UOC under the pretext that “Vladyka Arseniy has admitted his guilt, he is guilty and convicted”.

Konstantin Bondarenko stressed that Metropolitan Arseniy is aware of these risks. According to the political analyst, a possible deal with the investigation would save him personally, but would be an additional blow to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. “He did not give up either his faith or the Church and did not go along with those who want to make him an element of the exchange process,” the expert said.

Bondarenko also added that such a pressure scheme is not unique and is often used against the clergy of the UOC. “They come to the priest, arrest, detain. Then the investigator says: “If you admit guilt, we will give you a suspended sentence and let you go home. If not, we’ll put you in jail for 10 years,” he described a typical tactic.

In conclusion, the political scientist praised the metropolitan’s steadfastness in court. “The way Vladyka Arseny holds up in court is admirable. This is his moral victory over those who organize persecution,” Bondarenko concluded.

We will remind, the Vicar of the Svyatogorsk Lavra Metropolitan Arseny during the court hearing in Dnipro said that the security agencies offer him to go for an exchange, but he categorically refuses to leave the country. He emphasized his deep ties with Ukraine and his flock and asked the court to allow him to stay for necessary medical treatment.