Court refuses Prosecutor's Office to detain Metropolitan Feodosiy

Metropolitan Feodosiy of Cherkasy in the courtroom. Photo: suspilne.media

On 13 November 2023, the Sosnivsky Court of Cherkasy prolonged the preventive measure in the form of house arrest with wearing an electronic bracelet for Metropolitan Feodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv, said the head of the Legal Department of the Cherkasy Eparchy, Archpriest Georgy Pohranichny.

He noted that the court rejected the petition of prosecutors, who demanded to arrest the bishop.

According to the prosecution, Metropolitan Feodosiy allegedly violated the terms of house arrest by holding divine services in the eparchy administration without the permission of the Prosecutor's Office. Also, the hierarch allegedly "pressurised" witnesses, OCU "priests", in the case of inciting hatred.

The bishop himself stated in court that he did not violate the terms of house arrest. According to Met. Feodosiy, the motion of the Prosecutor's Office to detain him is a provocation.

"Intentional or non-intentional, I do not know. Do you realise what kind of publicity there is already in this case? Not only in Ukraine but all over the world. Do you realise what informational and legal consequences there may be? Do you realise what it will mean for the image of our country? You understand it perfectly well. These are provocations," he said.

As reported, Metropolitan Feodosiy told human rights activists about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

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