Court hearing in Upper Lavra case postponed at request of monastery's lawyers

A session at the Northern Commercial Court of Appeals in Kyiv. Photo: video screenshot t.me/save_Lavra

A hearing in the case regarding the right to use the temples of the Upper Lavra took place at the Northern Commercial Court of Appeals in Kyiv on February 18, 2026. Information and video from the scene were published by the Telegram channel "Fortetsia Lavra".

Lawyers of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and representatives of the National Reserve were present in the courtroom.

The Kyiv Metropolis filed a motion to postpone the case hearing due to the unavailability of the lawyer, who is participating in a criminal trial on the same day.

The court granted the defense's request and postponed the hearing for five days – until February 24 at 2:00 PM. The plaintiff's side objected to the proposed date, citing engagement in a higher court instance, but the judges did not take these arguments into account.

The UOC faithful gathered outside the courthouse to prayerfully support the monastery's brotherhood and lawyers.

According to eyewitnesses, an unidentified woman who arrived together with the lawyer for the Ministry of Culture shouted insults at the monks and held a placard with derogatory slogans.

The Lavra’s lawyers appealed to the police officers stationed in the courthouse, demanding that they establish the identity of the provocateur and provide a legal assessment of her actions.

As the UOJ reported, the Reserve cut locks on two temples of the Lower Lavra.

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