Supreme Court postpones hearing of Lavra abbot's lawsuit over sanctions

Metropolitan Pavel, the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, and his lawyers. Photo: a video screenshot of Archpriest Nikita Chekman’s Telegram channel

On 5 February 2024, the Cassation Administrative Court, acting as part of the Supreme Court, postponed the hearing on the lawsuit filed by the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Metropolitan Pavel, seeking the cancellation of the President's decree on personal sanctions against the bishop, reports the metropolitan’s lawyer Archpriest Nikita Chekman.

"The court session was postponed because, as of today, Metropolitan Pavel and his representatives cannot access the classified documents that justify this, in our opinion, illegal decree," said Father Nikita. "The court granted the petition of the plaintiff's side and provided additional time and an opportunity to obtain permission to access the documents."

According to the lawyer, the bishop is still prevented from getting access to classified documents by the Pechersk District Court, which does not allow him to leave the village of Voronkov.

Metropolitan Pavel thanked the panel of the Cassation Administrative Court "for their reasonable attitude, adequacy, understanding and professionalism".

As reported, on 22 May 2023, the Supreme Court opened proceedings on the lawsuit filed by the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra against President Volodymyr Zelensky to declare unlawful and annul Decrees No. 820/2022 of 1 December 2022 and No. 43/2023 of 24 January 2023 on personal sanctions.

Read also