A meeting of the Chechelovsky district Court of the city of Dnipro was held to choose a further preventive measure for the vicar of the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra, Metropolitan Arseny of Svyatogorsk.
Believers who came to an open hearing on December 6 in the case of Metropolitan Arseny, wishing to support Vladyka, were initially not allowed into the courthouse, citing the fact that it was a day off and the court was closed, but would only be allowed in if the judge allowed it. The judge, who went outside, allowed people to enter, but, as on Friday, limited the number of people who could attend the hearing to the number of seats in the courtroom.
Despite the fact that the hearing on Friday was attended by one of Vladyka Arseny's defenders and on Saturday morning all his lawyers were ready to participate in the meeting via videoconference, a lawyer from the free legal aid system was already present in the courtroom before the hearing. Vladyka's lawyers were not involved in the meeting. Moreover, the judge stated that they allegedly did not apply for participation online.
Also, People's Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Viktoria Hryb, one of the persons who submitted a statement of readiness to bail Vladyka Arseniy, and therefore a full participant in the trial, was not connected to the meeting via video link.
Before the meeting, Metropolitan Arseny had a confidential conversation with a lawyer from the free legal aid system. It turned out that she had not been familiar with the case materials: in particular, she did not know that Vladyka had paid defenders and that deputies were vouching for him, as well as about the bishop's critical state of health. However, the lawyer stated that she was ready to participate in the meeting. In addition, in violation of Ukrainian law, she refused to contact Vladyka's permanent lawyers to discuss the defense position with them, and misled Metropolitan Arseny (she would allegedly defend him in the court of appeal, although as a lawyer for free legal aid she was involved only in this meeting).
At 10:00 a.m., Judge Tatiana Bezruk opened the hearing, while omitting the necessary procedural rule for the announcement of the hearing participants.
During the hearing, the judge stated that Vladyka Arseny allegedly contacted his lawyers in court. The bishop pointed out to her that this was impossible, since he did not have a phone, and there were many witnesses, including the guards, the lawyer sitting in the courtroom, and the free listeners.
The judge interrupted Vladyka Arseny, preventing him from expressing his position.
Vladyka asked to give his lawyers an opportunity to participate in the meeting. This request was ignored. Then Metropolitan Arseny challenged the judge.
The review of the challenge began literally in 15 minutes and passed quickly. Despite the day off, there was another judge, an employee of the chancery and the head of the court staff in the courthouse. The challenge was refused.
Returning to the courtroom, Tatiana Bezruk warned that in case of a repeat of the alleged violations on the part of Vladyka Arseny, he would be removed from the courtroom.
Then Prosecutor L.V. Dahlberg read out her petition. Among the "arguments" in favor of Vladyka's continued detention, she pointed to Vladyka's allegedly great connections, authority, and financial condition, and therefore he could, if released, exert pressure on witnesses.
In his statement, Vladyka did not admit his guilt and asked to dismiss the prosecutor's motion.
The judge went to the conference room for an hour and a half.
By its decision, the court consolidated the two criminal cases opened against Vladyka Arseny into one proceeding and extended the metropolitan's detention for another 60 days, until February 3, 2026 inclusive. The decision was made ignoring the statements of nine People's deputies of Ukraine, who asked the court to give the vicar of the Lavra bail or determine the amount of bail.
The meeting ended around 4 p.m.
The defense is currently preparing an appeal to overturn the court's decision.
The inhabitants of the Holy Dormition Monastery of Svyatogorsk ask for prayers for the imprisoned Metropolitan Arseny and the brethren of the Lavra.