UN human rights monitors meet with Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy

On December 4, 2023, UN human rights monitors visited Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv, who has been under house arrest since April 2022 due to charges of "inciting interreligious hatred" and "justifying aggression by the Russian Federation." This was reported by the press service of the Cherkasy Diocese.

During the meeting, issues related to the persecution of UOC believers and raider seizures of temples throughout Ukraine were raised. In particular, the UN Monitoring Mission reported on the seizure of a monastery in Cherkasy, where a group of militants beat UOC believers and clergy, after which they took possession of the shrine for the OCU.

The parties also discussed attempts by local authorities to take away land previously allocated to UOC communities, on which the UOC built churches and cathedrals.

In addition, human rights activists discussed with the hierarch the draft law banning the UOC, which was passed by the Verkhovna Rada in the first reading.

"UN staff were informed about the shocking 'anti-restitution,' which state bodies are now implementing to take away property confiscated by the Bolsheviks from the Church. They could not properly return it to the Church all these years, despite international restitution obligations," the diocese said.

Metropolitan Theodosiy's lawyers also told UN representatives that after the hierarch received the status of a human rights defender, he faced increased pressure from Ukrainian special services. In particular, the hierarch was twice attempted to be taken into custody and sent to a pre-trial detention center.

As the UOJ reported, human rights activists discussed violations of the rights of UOC believers at the UN.