Lavra reports to the police against the head of Reserve for inciting hatred

Maksym Ostapenko. Photo: telegraf.com.ua

Lawyers of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra have sent a message to the Pechersk police department of the National Police of Ukraine in Kyiv about the commission of a criminal offense by the general director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve, Maksym Ostapenko.

The Lavra's lawyer, Archpriest Nikita Chekman, wrote on his Telegram channel that the statement to the police was filed for "inciting national, racial, or religious hatred and enmity, for insulting national honor and dignity, or offending the feelings of citizens in connection with their religious beliefs..., committed by a public official."

The priest noted that on January 30, 2024, Ostapenko Maksym Anatoliyovych, being a public official, in an interview with "Ukrainian Radio", stated that "there is currently a 'counterattack' in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra because in addition to the Russian imperial narrative, there was also a Soviet-KGB narrative, which, unfortunately, was embodied by part of the UOC-MP."

Ostapenko added that "to a large extent, we found ourselves in the epicenter of the 'Russian world', which needs to be eradicated primarily in people's minds."

"What to do with those people who have believed in the Russian church for decades, which lies, which kills? And for them, this is the norm," Ostapenko said.

In his opinion, "all Ukrainian society has long been waiting for more decisive legislative actions from our parliament regarding religious and other structures that are connected with the aggressor country."

"This needs to be resolved politically, harshly, and show who has the right to educate people, and who should serve prison terms for betraying their state," Ostapenko also said.

According to him, "changes in the consciousness of our people regarding those who are direct collaborators with Russia are very important."

"And here it seems to me that the UOC-MP, as it was an exarchate of the ROC in Ukraine, remains in direct subordination. They do not even try to seek dialogue with the society that appeals to what injustice Russia has committed, and how much society now needs spiritual guidance," the head of the Reserve said.

According to him, the believers of the UOC "continue, like zombies, to repeat Russian narratives." "Therefore, here both civil and legislative positions must be tougher," Ostapenko is convinced.

"Currently, Russia, through all instances, including the UN, UNESCO, and other international organizations, is trying to pressure the Ukrainian government to stop the investigation into the separatist anti-state activities of the UOC-MP," Ostapenko noted.

According to him, "no one can guarantee that there are no FSB operatives under the cassocks."

The Lavra's lawyer is confident that "Maksym Ostapenko's statements have all the signs of committing the aforementioned criminal offense."

Furthermore, Archpriest Nikita believes, "M.A. Ostapenko expresses his commitment to the religious union of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, supports the decision on the forcible transfer by religious communities from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, humiliates the honor and dignity of citizens in connection with their religious beliefs in the form of slander and harassment, and incites religious enmity and hatred."

The lawyer pointed out that "with the aim of inciting religious enmity towards the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Maksym Ostapenko deliberately uses lexemes such as 'Soviet-KGB narrative,' 'ROC,' 'FSB operatives,' 'separatist anti-state activities of the UOC MP,' thus linking the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with the activities of the aggressor country and its special services, which in turn constitutes propaganda of intolerance towards the Ukrainian Orthodox Church."

"Contrary to facilitating the establishment of relations of mutual religious and worldview tolerance and respect among citizens professing religion or not professing it, among believers of different faiths and their religious organizations, Maksym Ostapenko, as the general director of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve, incites religious enmity," believes the lawyer of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Ostapenko called the book of the "hierarch" of the OCU Moscow propaganda.

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