Ostapenko about Lavra buildings: Police deployed to guard state facilities

Acting Director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve Maxim Ostapenko. Photo: Koshovenko

Maxim Ostapenko, the acting director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve, informed the monks and believers present in the 58th building of the monastery that there will be "security" stationed there, as all the Lavra buildings are state-owned properties. A video of the conversation was published on the Telegram channel "Lavra Now".

According to Ostapenko, his actions are regulated by a certain letter that is in the possession of the Ministry of Culture. He stated that law enforcement officers will provide security for the Lavra buildings, as they are "state-owned objects".

"This is state property, can you answer that?" Ostapenko addressed the Lavra's lawyer.

However, the lawyer responded that the status of the Lavra objects has not changed until court decisions take effect. Nevertheless, the head of the Reserve ignored his words.

"There is a letter stating that we are taking all the objects under the protection of the police security forces. Regarding further actions related to these buildings, we will communicate with Archimandrite Nestor (the archimandrite of the UOC, the treasurer of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra – Ed.)," Ostapenko said.

As reported, the deputy director of the Reserve entered building 58 of the Lavra and instructed the police not to allow anyone into the hotel building.

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