UOC-MP activists prevented the Ministry of Culture Commission from entering the Lavra

04.07.2023, 14:07

State

UOC-MP activists prevented the Ministry of Culture Commission from entering the Lavra - фото 1

On July 4, a commission from the Ministry of Culture arrived at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to seal the premises. However, UOC-MP believers and monks present at the site are denying access to the commission members.

According to Glavcom, they claim that the commission supposedly lacks the appropriate authority.

The commission has obtained all necessary legal documents from the Ministry of Culture and is now exercising its rights over the objects that de jure belong to the reserve. Today, they were supposed to inspect and seal the vacated premises of the Lower Lavra, which includes five buildings, namely the 57th, 69th, and 70th structures.

Supporters of the Moscow Patriarchate also engaged in verbal altercations with law enforcement officers.

The head of the Ministry of Culture commission has filed a complaint with the police regarding obstruction of their work, leading the commission to leave the Lavra.

Representatives of the UOC-MP intended to file a counter-statement. However, the police suggested they call 102 (the emergency services number in Ukraine) and request another investigative-operational group.

As a reminder, according to a court decision, UOC-MP monks were supposed to vacate the premises of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra by July 4. The UOC-MP's Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra lost the case against the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Reserve regarding the removal of obstacles to property use.

The UOC-MP stated that they would not leave the Lavra premises, claiming there are no grounds to seal the buildings.