Ukrainian court keeps Metropolitan Arseniy of Sviatogorsk in pre-trial detention for two more months

A Ukrainian court has upheld a prosecutor's motion to extend the term of imprisonment of Metropolitan Arseniy, the vicar of the Sviatogorsk Lavra, in an isolation ward. He will remain behind bars until October 13.

The court did not heed the requests and nine people's deputies, who offered to give them the metropolitan on bail. “A precautionary measure (ask to change - Ed.) on detention on personal bail people's deputies. In case of refusal to satisfy the applications are asked to decide the issue of determining Yakovenko alternative measure of restraint in the form of bail”, - read the appeal of deputies judge Tatyana Haustova.

Characteristically, next week the Rada is planning to vote in the second reading for the ban of the canonical UOC in the country. According to Metropolitan Arseny, his arrest may become another strong argument of the opponents of the Church. “My case is only part of the mood that is now being mused in the Verkhovna Rada to ban the UOC. And if I am convicted, it will be such a trump card for the speeches of opponents of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and for the decision of the Verkhovna Rada on the ban of the UOC,” he believes.

It is known that the vladyka is kept in terrible conditions and due to frequent court sessions he hardly sleeps, constantly being on the road, not being able to eat and drink. “Such actions against the vicar of Sviatogorsk Lavra can not be called other than a conscious and purposeful torture,” - said the brethren of the Lavra.