Court dimisses Metropolitan Luke’s lawsuit against Cherkasy mayor
The decision may still be appealed in a higher court.
The Prydniprovsky District Court of Cherkasy has dismissed the lawsuit filed by Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol against the Mayor of Cherkasy, Anatoliy Bondarenko, and the local TV channel "VIKKA," concerning the protection of his rights, honor, and dignity, according to dzvin.media.
The hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church had demanded a retraction of false information aired on "VIKKA" during the program "Relevant Conversation" in December 2024. In that broadcast, Mayor Bondarenko claimed that the Metropolitan of Zaporizhzhia was "working for the enemy."
Metropolitan Luke had also sought symbolic moral compensation of one hryvnia from each defendant.
The court's decision has not yet entered into legal force and may be challenged in an appellate court.
As previously reported by the UOJ, the mayor of Cherkasy and the editorial staff of the TV channel deny any wrongdoing.
