TRC's ex-head, who threatened to seize Pochaiv Lavra, sentenced to 9 years

Mykhailo Holovko in the courthouse. Photo: slovoidilo

On June 18, 2025, the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine sentenced former head of the Ternopil Regional Council, Mykhailo Holovko – who had vowed to expel monks from the Pochaiv Lavra – to nine years in prison with confiscation of all property. The verdict was reported by the Slovo i Dilo portal.

The former official was also banned from holding any positions in state or local government bodies.

Holovko was convicted of receiving unlawful benefits and illegal possession of ammunition. He was sentenced to nine years of imprisonment and full confiscation of his assets.

Footage from the courtroom shows that during the reading of the verdict, Holovko began to lose consciousness, but later recovered.

In addition, the court ordered him to pay bail in the amount of 15 million hryvnias within five days, with procedural restrictions to remain in place until the verdict takes legal effect. The decision may still be appealed.

As previously reported by the UOJ, Holovko had demanded that the Cabinet of Ministers and the Ministry of Culture terminate the lease agreement with the Pochaiv Lavra and hand it over to local authorities, stating that he would then “find a way to drive the UOC out.” Just months later, on June 26, 2023, he was detained and charged with extortion and receiving a bribe of nearly 1.8 million UAH from a volunteer businessman. He was subsequently dismissed from his position as head of the regional council. Although a court reinstated him, the deputies later removed him again.

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