Advocates: Arrest of Met Arseny is an element of systemic pressure on UOC

Metropolitan Arseny of Sviatohirsk in court. Photo: MP Artem Dmytruk

The international human rights alliance "Church Against Xenophobia and Discrimination" has expressed concern over the arrest of the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, Metropolitan Arseny, viewing this as systemic suppression of the lawful activities and religious practices of the UOC. This was reported by the churchagainsthate.org website.

The alliance stated that they consider the arrest of Metropolitan Arseny to be unjustified, unlawful, and politically motivated.

The statement is based on the fact that the reason for the arrest was the disclosure by the Metropolitan of information about the location of the territorial defense forces in the fall of 2023. Human rights advocates claim that such disclosure did not harm the Armed Forces of Ukraine and was prompted by the blocking of believers at checkpoints on their way to religious services.

The alliance also notes that the arrest of Metropolitan Arseny coincides with the presentation of suspicions to the head of the DECR UOC, Archpriest Mykolay Danylevych, the arrest of journalists from the "Union of Orthodox Journalists", and the ban on access to information resources covering UOC issues.

These events are seen as systemic suppression of the lawful activities and religious practices of the UOC, particularly in connection with attempts to pass a law banning the UOC.

The "Church Against Xenophobia and Discrimination" Alliance demanded that the Ukrainian authorities immediately release Metropolitan Arseny, to mitigate his measure of restraint so that it does not involve deprivation of liberty. It is noted that foreign members of the alliance are ready to provide personal surety for the UOC hierarch.

"The International Human Rights Alliance, in response to the systematic persecution of the UOC believers, announces the creation of an open international broad movement to protect religious freedom and defend the rights of believers, and begins a time-unlimited international legal, diplomatic and media campaign to defend the rights of believers, notably the arrested hierarchs and clerics of the UOC. We urge all those who care to join this movement by expressing their desire for support by sending a short message to the following e-mail address: ngopublic@proton.me," the statement reads.

As reported by the UOJ, a video of Metropolitan Arseny's sermon has been published online, for which he is being prosecuted.

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