UOC-MP must leave Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, - Court decision
This was stated by Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko. This is also stated in court rulings, reports Ukrainska Pravda.
"The court refused to uphold the claim in case No. 910/4552/23 filed by the UOC against the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve to invalidate the transaction of unilateral cancellation of the contract, to apply the consequences of invalidation of the termination of the Agreement No. 2 of July 19, 2013, on the free use of religious buildings and other property owned by the religious organization."
According to the decision of the Ministry of Culture, the Moscow Patriarchate had to leave the reserve by March 29, but on March 30, parishioners of the UOC-MP did not allow the ministry's commission to enter the monastery to take an inventory of the reserve's property.
Pavlo (Lebid) told the parishioners that the commission "cannot work in any way."
The UOC-MP tried to appeal the authorities' decision and filed a lawsuit with the Commercial Court. The statement of claim states that the agreement between the Reserve and the Lavra is in force, and the UOC-MP has no reason to leave.
The court refused to uphold the claim of representatives of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra of the UOC-MP.
The court noted that the plaintiff was unable to prove or substantiate the claims that if the UOC-MP was evicted from the Lavra, there was a threat of "destruction or damage to property, transfer to third parties in ownership/use, granting permits to other religious organizations to hold services, violation of the rights of Ukrainian citizens to freedom of religion and housing."
Representatives of the UOC-MP, despite the demand to leave the shrine on March 29, still remain in the Lavra on the morning of March 30 and even held services in one of the churches.
The commission was supposed to check two buildings on March 30.
Representatives of the Ministry of Culture said that if they are hindered in the future, they will contact the police.
