Lavra's lawyers appeal to Rada and SBI over the abuse of the Reserve

The police are preventing parishioners from passing bread into the besieged buildings of the Lavra. Photo: a screenshot from Fr Nikita Chekman’s Telegram channel

Due to the police blocking people in buildings No. 57 and No. 58 of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the monastery has lodged complaints with the authorized state authorities, wrote the Lavra's lawyer, Protodeacon Nikita Chekman, in a Telegram message.

"The National Reserve 'Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra', with the assistance of the police and without a legally binding court decision, autonomously and without any legal basis, attempts to seal off buildings No. 57 and No. 58 of the Lower Lavra, where pilgrims and monks reside," the lawyer stated.

He reminded that the police do not allow food to be delivered to people, which is recognized as torture according to the practice of the European Court of Human Rights.

"The Reserve's Commission and the security police violate people's freedom of movement and the free choice of residence, the right to life and health," Father Nikita wrote.

He informed that in the interests of the monastery, the following actions have been taken in connection with the unlawful actions:

• an appeal to the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights;
• a notification of the commission of a criminal offence to the Territorial Office of the State Bureau of Investigations located in Kyiv;
• an appeal to a member of the Parliament of Ukraine.

"We believe that the unlawful actions of individuals blatantly violating the constitutional rights of believers of the UOC cannot go unnoticed. We hope to receive an appropriate response from law enforcement and human rights organizations to hold those responsible accountable and prevent the recurrence of such situations in the future," concluded the lawyer.

As earlier reported, a video was shown online of a monk throwing bread to people in a sealed-off building.

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