Abbot's lawyer: Suspicion to the Metropolitan is unfounded

Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed). Photo: lavra.ua

Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshhorod and Chornobyl, the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, who is under house arrest, gave his first testimony as a suspect on April 4, 2023, as Archpriest Nikita Chekman, the archpriest's lawyer, announced on his Telegram channel.

Father Nikita added that Vladyka is providing testimony and is cooperating with the investigation.

“Due to the fact that no electronic evidence was provided during the consideration of the petition for a preventive measure, the lawyers, taking into account the provision of the right to defense, filed a petition in accordance with Art. 221 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of Ukraine (familiarization with the materials of criminal proceedings). The request has not been satisfied so far. The defense considers the bishop’s suspicion unfounded,” the human rights activist added.

Recall that on April 1, 2023, the SBU came to Metropolitan Pavel. The security forces conducted a search and took Vladyka to court, where he was accused of justifying Russian aggression, as well as criticizing the OCU and the Phanar. Vladyka is under house arrest without the right to visit the Lavra.

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