On March 28, 2025, UOC´s Metropolitan Theodosy (Snigirov) of Cherkasy and Kanev spoke at the UN during the 58th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council under the agenda item of the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Ukraine.

In the presence of the President of the UN Human Rights Council, Mr. Jürg Lauber; the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk; diplomats from UN member states; and representatives of international organizations, Metropolitan Feodosiy addressed another serious violation of religious freedom in Ukraine: the violent seizure of the UOC Cathedral in Cherkasy. He reported the brutal assault on UOC believers, the use of weapons by those who carried out the attack, and the theft of money and property from the Cathedral complex. The Cathedral, he emphasized, is the legally registered property of the Cherkasy Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as confirmed by official documentation.

Despite this clear legal status, the Cathedral was not only seized but also transferred to representatives of another denomination — the “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” a religious body established by Patriarch Bartholomew in 2018 — which now openly conducts services on the premises.

Metropolitan Feodosiy called on UN Special Rapporteurs, the UN High Commissioner, and diplomats of UN member states to help stop the systemic violations against UOC believers. He suggested that, in light of the ongoing peace negotiations on Ukraine, restoring justice in this case — including the return of the Cathedral to its rightful owner — could serve as a meaningful first step toward ending the persecution of the UOC and reestablishing Ukraine’s commitment to human rights.

During the 58th session of the UN HRC, the human rights organizations Public Advocacy and For Human Rights submitted a joint written statement to the UN documentation center. The statement detailed the violent seizure of the Cathedral in Cherkasy, including an assassination attempt on Metropolitan Feodosiy himself, who sustained a serious head injury after being struck with a heavy object. 

It also documented the physical injuries inflicted on numerous UOC believers and the theft of money and property from the Cathedral complex. The statement highlighted evidence suggesting involvement of local state agents in the seizure — in particular, public remarks by the mayor of Cherkasy and the failure of police to intervene.

Rather than detaining those responsible, law enforcement opened criminal proceedings against UOC believers who had tried to defend their place of worship and property.                          

A comprehensive account of the Cathedral’s forcible seizure was included in the joint written statement by the human rights organizations holding consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. This document was distributed to participants of the Human Rights Council during the debate on “Human Rights Situations that Require the Attention of the UN Human Rights Council.” 

The full text of the statement is available on the UN documentation center website under the reference number A/HRC/58/NGO/111.

Human rights work on this case will continue in international courts, through UN special procedures, and in diplomatic and political dialogues at multiple levels.

Special attention will be given by human rights lawyers to the potential application of sanctions against Ukrainian officials and political figures found responsible for human rights violations in this case, as well as their failure to ensure the fair return of the Cathedral to its legal owner.

A donation link to support legal defense efforts within the framework of this initiative is available on the website of the Church Against Xenophobia and Discrimination Alliance. The success of this defense effort also depends on your support.

Photos:

Title Photo 1 – Metropolitan Feodosiy delivering his speech at the United Nations

Photo 2 – Metropolitan Feodosiy after suffering a head injury while defending the Cathedral in Cherkasy from unlawful seizure

Photo 3 – UOC believer beaten by radicals during the seizure of the Cherkasy Cathedral

Written statement regarding Cathedral´s case: