Lawyers of Met. Arseniy Demand Judge's Recusal

Hearing in the case of Metropolitan Arseniy. Photo: Sviatohirsk Lavra website

SLOVIANSK — On September 24, 2025, a new hearing took place in the case against Metropolitan Arseniy, abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, at the Sloviansk City District Court in Donetsk Oblast, according to the monastery's press service.

At the beginning of the hearing, the newly assigned prosecutor reportedly presented false information regarding the handling of procedural documents. In response, the defense filed a motion for his recusal, which the court denied.

Judge Tetiana Khaustova then considered motions by the defense to cancel the prosecutor general’s order to change the group of prosecutors and to return the indictment. Both motions were rejected.

The court proceeded to consider the prosecution’s motion to extend the pre-trial detention of Metropolitan Arseniy, which was set to expire today, September 29. Despite several defense attorneys being absent due to an air raid alert, the judge did not suspend the hearing. As a result, the defense filed a motion to recuse the judge.

The date for reviewing the motion to recuse the judge will be scheduled separately.

On September 25, the Dnipro Court of Appeals was expected to review the defense's appeal against the lower court’s ruling that kept Metropolitan Arseniy in custody. The hierarch has been held in the Dnipro pre-trial detention center since April 2024.

Previously, UOJ reported that the brotherhood of the Sviatogorsk Lavra had appealed to the faithful for prayers for the imprisoned Metropolitan Arseniy and for the brethren of the monastery. The official Lavra website has also published details for making donations toward the bishop’s legal defense.

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