Detention Extended for Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Leader Pavel Amid Prosecution

The Kiev Solomensky District Court has kept Metropolitan Pavel, the head of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and a leading figure in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), under detention until August 14, following a decision reported by Strana.UA. The court accepted prosecutors’ request to change the prior preventive measure—from home arrest with round-the-clock monitoring to detention with bail set at 33 million hryvnias. The ruling specifies that the detention period will extend through August 14, 2023, a timeline that prompted statements from Metropolitan Pavel denying the court’s arrest decision and indicating that he does not possess the funds to post bail. The shift in detention status reflects the ongoing legal process surrounding the cleric and the broader case against the Lavra’s leadership as prosecutors pursue additional charges and constraints on his movements while investigations continue.