Nardep Mazurashu: Metropolitan Arseniy is being "slowly killed" in pre-trial detention center on trumped-up charges

A Ukrainian MP of the Servant of the People faction, Heorhiy Mazurashu, has made a harsh statement regarding the detention of Metropolitan Arseniy of Sviatohirsk. The MP accused the Ukrainian authorities of «slowly killing» Metropolitan Arseniy in the pre-trial detention center, emphasizing that the charges against him are «sucked out of a finger» and are a disgrace for the country.

In his commentary for Liberty UA, Georgi Mazurashu noted that the bishop, whom he called «hardly a holy man,» is being kept behind bars despite serious health problems. «In fact, he is, you could say, being slowly killed there in the pre-trial detention center. And this is also a shame for our country,» the publication quotes the words of the MP. Mazurashu expressed bewilderment at the need to keep a clergyman with such authority among the faithful in the pre-trial detention center on, as he put it, «to put it mildly, a drawn-out charge.» He called for either providing the public with evidence of guilt or transferring the metropolitan under house arrest, given his condition.

The MP also harshly criticized the specific accusations against the metropolitan regarding his alleged surrender. According to Mazurashu, these accusations «do not stand up to any criticism.» He explained that Metropolitan Arseniy was accused of informing the laity about the presence of roadblocks in certain localities, which, according to the MP, is not a surrender of positions, but only informing about the facts known at the time. He emphasized that at that time there were roadblocks in almost all settlements.

George Mazurashu harshly condemned the actions of law enforcers, who, in his opinion, «mock» the bishop. «It is necessary to be some kind of … i do not know, do not believe in God, or in general, in anything,» — emotionally stated the Deputy, expressing bewilderment about the principles that guide these people.

We will remind, earlier we reported that the Chechelovsky district court of the city of Dnipro extended the measure of restraint in the form of detention for the vicar of the Holy Assumption Svyatogorsk Lavra Metropolitan of Svyatogorsk Arseny. According to the court decision, issued on January 22, 2026 by Judge Tatyana Vasilyevna Bezruk, the bishop will remain in pre-trial detention for another 60 days, until March 22, 2026.