Russian Foreign Ministry urged to lift the blockade of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded that the Ukrainian authorities lift the blockade of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. Statement published on the website of the diplomatic department.

“We call on all people of good will and those who are convinced of the need to defend the right of people to freedom of religion, to prevent a blatant act of violence against the monks and believers of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. We demand that the blockade be lifted and that the abuse of the people in the monastery be stopped,” the message reads.

The Foreign Ministry noted that access to the monastery is prohibited, but there are monks and clergymen. The Ukrainian authorities prohibit the transfer of food and basic necessities, thereby resorting to “the most monstrous way to break the will of people who disobey him – to starve them to death,” which violates both moral principles and fundamental human rights and a number of international documents, the ministry added.

“This is yet another step by the neo-Nazi regime in an attempt to destroy the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which unites tens of millions of people,” the statement reads. The ministry called blasphemous statements about Ukraine’s plans to close the Lavra for pilgrims and provide it to military personnel for “spiritual practices.”

August 15 Ukrainian Orthodox Church reportedthat police officers stormed three buildings of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, in which pilgrims and part of the brethren live. Then it was reported that the police let people through only according to the lists agreed with the reserve and inspect personal belongings.

The conflict between the Ukrainian authorities and the UOC escalated in March 2023. The leadership of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve terminated the agreement with the UOC and ordered its representatives to leave the territory. In response, the clergy filed a lawsuit in court to challenge the termination of the lease.

On August 9, a court in Kyiv recognized as legal the termination of the agreement between the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra reserve and the UOC. The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine explained that the grounds for termination were a number of identified violations of the contract. On August 10, UOC lawyer Nikita Chekman said that the court allowed the pilgrims to be evicted from the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.