Lavra abbot appeals against sanctions imposed on him in court

Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed). Photo: wz.lviv.ua

Metropolitan Pavel, the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, has filed a lawsuit with the Administrative Court of Cassation, which operates in the Supreme Court, to find illegal and cancel two presidential decrees on personal sanctions, reports the portal “Sudova Vlada Ukrainy”.

The bishop challenged decrees No 820/2022 of December 1, 2022, and No 43/2023 of January 24, 2023, by which the head of the state imposed sanctions of the National Security and Defense Council and then expanded the list of restrictions in relation to Bishop Pavel and 9 other clerics of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The sanctions, in particular, provide for blocking assets, restricting trade operations, limiting, partially or fully stopping the transit of resources, flights and transportation through Ukraine, preventing the transfer of capital outside Ukraine, stopping cultural exchanges, scientific cooperation, educational contacts with foreign states and legal entities, etc.

As reported, Metropolitan Pavel is under 24-hour house arrest – he is accused of justifying Russian aggression and inciting religious strife.

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