UOC's Lawyer: Stop Calling Ukraine a Democracy as They Torture Innocent Priests
Robert Amsterdam denounced mistreatment of clergy after the persecuted Met. Arseniy fell ill during a recent court hearing. The hierarch has been continually denied urgent heart surgery.
LONDON — On Nov. 29, 2025, international attorney for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) Robert Amsterdam posted on X about reports that a court hearing in the second criminal case against Met. Arseniy, abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, had been disrupted due to a sharp deterioration in the hierarch’s health.
After receiving information about what occurred in court, Amsterdam issued a harsh statement in a quote tweet of a UOJ post: "Please stop talking about Ukraine as democratic as they torture innocent priests out of some form of sick ethno-nationalism!"
As reported by UOJ-Ukraine, it should be noted that Met. Arseniy’s condition worsened during the Nov. 28 hearing at the Sobornyi District Court of Dnipro. The court was examining a motion to recuse the investigator, but the session was marked by serious violations of the defense’s procedural rights. The hierarch's blood pressure spiked sharply, prompting an ambulance call; medics provided initial aid right in the courtroom.
The proceedings began with a significant delay and under major procedural irregularities. After the metropolitan’s health deteriorated, the hearing was postponed. Nevertheless, the investigator scheduled a new forced transport of the bishop for “unclear procedural actions” on Nov. 29.
The attorneys note that defense motions are being unjustifiably delayed — specifically, the recusal motion against the investigator has not been addressed for more than 10 days, while motions from the prosecution are granted promptly. This, according to the defense, casts doubt on the impartiality of the judicial process.
Previously, UOJ reported that a former Ukrainian MP claimed President Volodomyr Zelenskyy personally ordered the arrest of Met. Arseniy.
