Ukrainian Court Extends Detention of Met. Arseniy

Met. Arseniy. Photo: Sviatohirsk Lavra

DNIPRO — A district court in Dnipro has extended the pretrial detention of Met. Arseniy, Abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, until Feb. 3, 2026. The decision was issued on Dec. 6, 2025, during a hearing at the Chechelivskyi District Court marked by restricted access for supporters and disputes over legal representation.

As reported by UOJ-Ukraine, faithful who arrived to support the hierarch were not initially allowed into the courthouse due to the weekend schedule. They were later admitted after the judge intervened, but attendance was capped based on available seating.

Met. Arseniy’s own attorneys were not permitted to join the session, despite being prepared to participate via videoconference. Judge Tatyana Bezruk stated they had not filed the required request for online participation. Instead, a state-appointed lawyer unfamiliar with the case was assigned and declined to coordinate with the hierarch’s regular defense team. A request from MP Viktoria Hryb to join the hearing and take the hierarch on personal surety was also denied.

During the hearing, Met. Arseniy moved to recuse the judge after being prevented from bringing in his defense team, but the motion was rejected.

Prosecutor Larisa Dalberg argued for continued detention, citing the metropolitan’s “extensive connections, authority, and financial means,” which she claimed could allow him to influence witnesses. The hierarch denied all charges and requested that the motion to extend his detention be dismissed.

The court consolidated two criminal cases against Met. Arseniy into a single proceeding and extended his custody by an additional 60 days. Petitions from nine members of Ukraine’s parliament seeking his release on personal surety or the setting of bail were not considered.

The defense plans to file an appeal.

Previously, UOJ reported that the Primate of the UOC, Met. Onuphry, had congratulated Met. Arseniy on the 20th anniversary of his consecration as a bishop.

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