Lavra makes a claim for actions of the Reserve

Police near building 39 of the Lavra. Photo: UOJ

On April 19, 2023, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Monastery filed a complaint with the State Bureau of Investigation about the unlawful actions of the Reserve’s employees, as well as the police, Archpriest Nikita Chekman, Lavra’s lawyer, said on his Telegram channel.

“Representatives of the National Reserve, accompanied by police officers, damaged the property of the monastery – illegally broke the locks, entered the premises of the 39th building and carried out illegal sealing. Police officers at that time did not allow representatives of the monastery,” the lawyer wrote.

He recalled that there are disputable legal relations between the monastery and the reserve, and the Economic Court of Kyiv is considering a number of cases, which are pending. Therefore, without a court decision, no one has the right to commit such arbitrary actions.

The lawyer believes that the police also showed signs of a criminal offense – abuse of power.

“A statement was filed from the monastery about the commission of a criminal offense by employees of the National Reserve. This application was accepted and registered. We also filed a complaint against the police officers who are here, who contributed to the commission of these illegal actions. This application will be considered by the State Bureau of Investigation, according to the jurisdiction,” the lawyer said.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the commission of the Ministry of Culture acted on the territory of the monastery with grinders and without documents.

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