UOC protests against Ministry’s intentions to seal Lavra buildings

Lower Lavra. Photo: RBC

The Legal Department of the UOC commented on the intentions of the Ministry of Culture to seal four new buildings of the Lower Lavra on August 10. Lawyers on their website stated that such actions are completely illegal.

“The motives and rules of law, on the basis of which the court made the decision, were not set out in writing by the court and the full text of the decision was not proclaimed,” the lawyers wrote about the court’s decision to recognize the termination of the agreement with the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra by the Ministry of Culture.

“Based on the fact that the termination of the Agreement unilaterally occurred unlawfully, and therefore, in accordance with Part 1 of Art. 216 of the Civil Code of Ukraine, such a refusal did not create legal consequences, and the court incompletely and biasedly examined the evidence and circumstances of the case. It can be asserted that a decision was made with a significant violation of substantive and procedural law, which will result in filing an appeal and checking the validity of the decision by the court of appeal,” the Legal Department commented on the decision on the legality of breaking the contract between the Ministry of Culture and the Monastery.

“In this regard, we draw your attention to the fact that any actions of the representatives of the Reserve to seal the buildings or prevent the monastery from using them are not only illegal, but also qualify as arbitrary, for which criminal liability is provided,” the lawyers concluded.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that Lavra's lawyers are preparing an appeal against the court's decision.

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