Culture Ministry pledges to speed up seizure of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra from UOC
Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. Photo: lavra.ua
Ukraine’s Culture Minister Tetiana Berezhna has announced plans to expedite legal proceedings against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to secure the full transfer of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to state control, according to Telegraf.
According to the minister, the government’s strategy calls for bringing the entire holy site under state control. To prevent the proceedings from dragging on, the ministry has adopted a strategic approach to the case and intends to counter any procedural delays, which Berezhna blamed on the monastery’s defense lawyers.
Berezhna also pledged to personally attend one of the upcoming court hearings to defend the position of the ministry and the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve. Citing her 11 years of experience as a lawyer, she expressed confidence that the proceedings could be brought to a swift conclusion.
The culture minister also addressed the future of the Pochaiv Lavra. Berezhna referred to a presidential bill on national shrines currently under consideration in the Verkhovna Rada. The bill covers the Kyiv-Pechersk, Pochaiv, and Sviatohirsk Lavras. The authorities expect the proposed legal framework to bring all of Ukraine’s national shrines under a system that serves the interests of state policy and culture.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that Ostapenko had said 18 judges had recused themselves over the three years of litigation concerning the Lavra.
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