Hearings in Met Theodosiy case shifted due to bishop's medical treatment
Provocateurs with signs gathered again outside the courthouse while waiting for the UOC bishop.
In Cherkasy, on 25 July, a hearing in the case of Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv was scheduled to take place at the Sosnivskyi District Court. According to lawyer Yudin, the bishop continues to receive treatment at the Heart Institute. The court found the reason for Metropolitan Theodosiy's absence valid and postponed the hearing.
According to the lawyer, his client continues to receive inpatient treatment at the Heart Institute following surgery.
Prosecutor Kolomiets insisted on scheduling the hearing for 26 July, claiming to have received information that the UOC hierarch was supposed to be discharged from the hospital on July 25.
"I request to schedule the hearing for tomorrow because his pre-trial detention measure is set to expire tomorrow," he said, asserting that, in his view, the defendant is deliberately avoiding the hearings. He again pointed to the bishop's speech on 10 July at the United Nations.
In response, lawyer Yudin noted that the speech was not delivered live: "We recorded a video message from Theodosiy in advance, and it was this recording that was played at the UN. As far as I know, his condition has not improved, so he is unlikely to be able to attend the hearing tomorrow."
The judge considered the reason for the metropolitan's non-appearance at the hearing to be valid and emphasized that if he were discharged from the treatment facility, he would be duly informed of the new hearing.
While waiting for the bishop, who had undergone heart surgery, provocateurs with signs gathered outside the courthouse once again.
As reported by the UOJ, Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy underwent heart surgery.