Journalist Valeriy Stupnitsky's detention extended for another two months
Valeriy Stupnitsky will be held in custody until November 7, 2024, without the possibility of bail.
On September 9, the Solomianskyi District Court of Kyiv considered the request of SBU investigator O. Savenko to prolong the measure of restraint in the form of detention for journalist Stupnytskyi. According to reports from the UOJ correspondent, Judge O. Kryvorot granted the prosecution's request.
Prosecutor V. Vasechko justified the need to extend Stupnitsky’s detention by citing the severity of the charges against him and claiming that the journalist could continue publishing illegal articles online if released, thereby harming the investigation.
The defense argued for a change in the measure of restraint to house arrest or bail. Lawyers Yu.V. Shestakova and R.M. Gontarev reiterated the groundlessness of the suspicion and the lack of real evidence. They pointed out that no connections between Stupnitsky and representatives of the Russian Federation had been proven, which would warrant the accusation of state treason.
Additionally, the defense emphasized that the accusations were based solely on expert conclusions that exceeded their competencies by addressing legal issues, which is prohibited by law.
The lawyers highlighted that Stupnitsky was engaged solely in lawful journalistic activities, defending the interests of the Church and believers. The website of the Union of Orthodox Journalists featured numerous articles condemning Russian aggression and the support of this aggression by the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). This contradicts the suspicion of state treason. Specifically, the defense analyzed the articles cited in the suspicion and demonstrated that they contained nothing illegal.
The defense also drew the court’s attention to Stupnitsky’s prolonged detention, during which he suffers from serious chronic illnesses. He is responsible for his elderly mother and a minor child. Moreover, the court was informed about the change in the measure of restraint for another suspect in the same case from detention to the possibility of bail.
During his statement, Stupnitsky once again argued for his innocence and clarified the true nature of the activities of UOJ journalists.
Despite the compelling arguments from the defense and the journalist, the judge granted the investigator’s request, extending Valeriy Stupnitsky's detention until November 7, 2024, without the possibility of bail.
As reported by the UOJ, on the same day, September 9, Judge I. Teslenko of the Solomianskyi District Court issued a decision to remove SBU investigator Oleh Savenko from conducting the pre-trial investigation into the case of Orthodox journalists and UOC priest Archpriest Serhiy Chertylin.
