Notre Dame Law School’s Global Human Rights Clinic helped secure the release of two Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church priests, Fr. Bohdan Geleta and Fr. Ivan Levytskyi, from Russian captivity on Friday, June 28.

The Ukrainian priests began their ministry in Berdiansk in 2019. After the full-scale Russian invasion began in February 2022, the priests remained in the city to continue their ministry. They were later arrested in occupied Berdiansk on November 16, 2022, and charged with terrorism by the Russian Federation.

The arrest was made on a false accusation of illegal weapons possession after military items were planted in their church, according to information from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Their whereabouts were largely unknown since their arrest.

Notre Dame Law School’s Global Human Rights Clinic was engaged as counsel in January 2024 by Fr. Volodymyr Boreiko, the Provincial Superior of Lviv Province of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, the same Congregation to which both Fr. Geleta and Fr. Levytskyi belong.

Through the efforts of Notre Dame Law School’s Global Human Rights Clinic, they are now free.

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Order of St. Thomas More members help continue the proud tradition of a Notre Dame legal education that protects religious freedom globally, leading the charge toward educating a different kind of lawyer.

Originally published by Michelle McDaniel at giving.nd.edu on November 20, 2024.