Lawyer tells details of handing suspicion from SBU to Metropolitan Pavel

Archpriest Nikita Chekman and Metropolitan Pavel. Photo: news.church.ua

The lawyer of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Archpriest Nikita Chekman, told the details of the presentation by the SBU of the second suspicion to Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed).

According to the lawyer, on July 13, 2023, at 9:30 a.m., Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshhorod and Chornobyl arrived at the SBU, where he was interrogated as a witness in another criminal proceeding.

After the completion of the investigative action, another investigator arrived at the premises, who is investigating the case on suspicion of the Metropolitan, and handed over a message about a new suspicion, as well as a petition to change the measure of restraint to detention.

After that, the priest writes, the SBU disseminated the above-mentioned information in online publications, with the suspect's open personal data, which violates the presumption of innocence.

“I want to emphasize that according to Art. 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered innocent of a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until his guilt is legally proven,” the lawyer reminded the security forces.

He also said that the publications of the SBU "contain information from the pre-trial investigation that require detailed investigation in court and are not proven facts."

“Thus, the above leads to an artificial manipulation of public opinion,” the human rights activist is sure.

He noted that the defense believes that there are no reasonable grounds requiring a change in the preventive measure.

“Vladyka conscientiously fulfills all his duties, always arrives on time for all scheduled interrogations, other investigative actions, and is in touch,” he wrote.

Archpriest Nikita Chekman also said that today, after the end of the working day, the investigator, in violation of the requirements of procedural legislation, summoned Metropolitan Pavel for a new interrogation, on the morning of tomorrow, a few hours before considering the petition to change the preventive measure.

“That is, the pre-trial investigation body deliberately creates conditions that complicate the proper preparation for the trial. What is this – deliberate psychological pressure, an attempt to demoralize?”, the lawyer wrote.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the date of the trial on choosing a measure of restraint for Metropolitan Pavel became known.

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