Lawyer: Banks obstruct bail for Metropolitan Pavel

Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed). Photo: ctrana.news

Financial institutions actively tried to hinder the submission of bail for the release of the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel, from pre-trial detention, reports the lawyer of the bishop, Archpriest Nikita Chekman, on his Telegram channel.

"Parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church repeatedly turned to us with complaints about the problems that arose when attempting to pay bail for Metropolitan Pavel," the lawyer noted. "Some banks unreasonably refused to process transfers to the special account of the State Judicial Administration (SJA). Other banks referred to financial monitoring and sanctions, which allegedly made the execution of payments impossible. We inform you that there were also cases of funds being blocked and returned to the accounts of individuals who tried to provide bail."

Father Nikita said that believers raised funds "through all possible means: 'banks' were set up in applications of national banks through grassroots initiatives, donation boxes were placed in the Lavra and virtually all Ukrainian Orthodox Church temples in many cities and villages across Ukraine."

According to the lawyer, without exaggeration, it can be said that millions of UOC parishioners participated in the fundraising efforts.

"Despite all the obstacles that were artificially created, they were overcome, as it is impossible to block over a thousand (!) payments from ordinary citizens, regular Ukrainians, made for the prompt release of Metropolitan Pavel," emphasized the archpriest.

As reported, on August 7, 2023, the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was released from custody on bail.

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