Russian Foreign Ministry called for the release of the governor of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra
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The decision of the court in Kyiv to arrest the abbot of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed) is a manifestation of “political arbitrariness and legal lawlessness reigning in Ukraine”, and Moscow demands the release of the metropolitan, stated Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
On July 14, the Solomensky Court of Kyiv changed the measure of restraint for the Metropolitan from house arrest to detention until August 14 with the possibility of bail of 33 million hryvnias (about $900,000).
“What happened is another manifestation of the political arbitrariness and lawlessness that reigns in Ukraine, the systemic gross violation of the rights of Orthodox Christians by the Kiev regime, which contradicts a number of generally recognized international legal documents,” the statement says.
According to Zakharova, the purpose of such actions is to destroy the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which unites “tens of millions of people.”
“We demand that the Kyiv regime strictly observe its international legal obligations, immediately release Metropolitan Pavel, who is suffering from a serious illness, and provide him with proper medical care,” the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.
She also expressed regret that the pressure on the canonical Orthodox Church and the “outrages against the monks and shrines” of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra do not receive intelligible assessments of relevant international structures.
On April 1, the Shevchenkovsky District Court in Kyiv chose a measure of restraint for the governor of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel, in the form of round-the-clock house arrest with the wearing of an electronic bracelet. The court also refused to satisfy the request of the Metropolitan’s defense side to attend services in the Lavra. On April 2, the Sunday service was led by Metropolitan Onufry. Against this background, the Russian Foreign Ministry also demanded release the governor of the Lavra.
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