Viktor Yelensky, the head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, stated that representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate are intentionally postponing the deliberation of the case regarding the liquidation of the Kyiv Metropolia.
This was reported by Glavkom, citing Radio Liberty.
According to Yelensky, the lawyers representing the Metropolia are "abusing judicial procedures" and acting "aggressively." He pointed out that the Moscow Church denies receiving the order, despite Metropolitan Onufriy, the head of the UOC-MP, acknowledging it in a letter.
"They claim they did not receive the order, while the Metropolitan of Kyiv stated in his letter that 'we have received your order and will not comply with it.' [...] They consistently lie and delay the process because if the case goes to trial, they will have to explain why they refuse to leave an organization that is directly involved in the war against Ukraine," said the head of the DESS.
Metropolia lawyer Mykyta Chekman reported on Telegram that more than a thousand believers have submitted applications to join the case as third parties, with another 300 applications currently at the court office. As a result, the hearing has been postponed. The next hearing regarding the liquidation of the Kyiv Metropolia of the UOC-MP is scheduled for December 11.
The Kyiv Metropolia of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC-MP) has been recognized as affiliated with a foreign religious organization whose activities are prohibited in Ukraine, according to Article 3 of the Law on the Protection of the Constitutional Order in the Sphere of Religious Organizations.
Earlier, the State Service of Ukraine on Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience issued an order to identify signs of affiliation between the Kyiv Metropolia of the UOC and the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), whose activities are banned in Ukraine.
Following the investigation into the affiliation of the Kyiv Metropolia of the UOC with the ROC, the UOC was ordered to resolve violations of the law on freedom of conscience and religious organizations. The UOC-MP was given until August 18 to sever ties with the ROC.