Lavra's lawyer again seeks to open a case against "activists" through court

Provocateurs near the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Photo: a video screenshot of the UOJ

On 4 October 2023, a lawyer of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Dmytro Tsvetov, appealed to the Pecherskyy District Court due to the fact that the district police department once again ignored his statement about the offence of anti-church "activists" near the monastery, reports the "KozakTv1" TG channel.

The statement, with which the lawyer appealed to the police on 29 September, reported that a group of provocateurs tried to disrupt the service at the Church St. Sergius of Radonezh. The offenders prevented the believers from praying, insulted their religious feelings and defamed the Church. The lawyer noted that these actions may qualify as a criminal offence under Part 1 Article 180 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal obstruction of a religious rite, disrupting or threatening to disrupt a religious rite).

According to Dmitry Tsvetov's complaint filed with the court, under the Criminal Procedure Code, law enforcers should have entered information about the commission of a criminal offence into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations and started investigative actions within 24 hours, but they failed to do so.

As reported, since 13 September, Lavra's lawyers have already filed six claims with the Pechersk police department about the disorderly conduct of "activists" near the monastery, and each time the police refused to start investigations.

On 26 September, a judge of the Pechersk court satisfied the complaint of the monastery's lawyers and ordered the police to start a pre-trial investigation into one of the facts of obstruction of worship near the Lavra.

 

Read also

Two Sunday school pupils of the UOC were killed in an airstrike on Sumy

In Sumy, 10-year-old Sofia and 5-year-old Emilia – pupils of the UOC Sunday school – were killed under the rubble of their own home following an airstrike.

Authorities give Moldovan deputy prime minister tour of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popșoi was shown the damaged Dormition Cathedral at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and briefed on plans for its restoration.

Supreme Court Returns Case of UOC Temple "Transfer" in Kremenchuk for Review

The Court of Appeal will re-examine the case of the illegal re-registration of the Holy Dormition community of the UOC in Kremenchuk into the structure of the OCU.

Orthodox chapel miraculously survives wildfire in Greece

A small Orthodox chapel on Crete survived amid land scorched by wildfire, becoming a symbol of hope for local residents.

Moldovan Liberal Party calls for Metropolia to be banned over ROC ties

The Liberal Party of Moldova has urged parliament to require the Moldovan Metropolia to sever its ties with the Russian Orthodox Church or outlaw it.

US awards $35,000 grant to study “gender minority birthing people”

The US National Institutes of Health has awarded $35,000 to study the mental health of LGBTQ people during pregnancy and childbirth.