The official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, described the decision of the Ukrainian authorities to arrest the priest of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed), as a violation and violation of the rights of Orthodox Christians. Related statement of international law published Web site Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
“The court established by the authorities and the strong measures they took to expel the believers from the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra are links of the same chain. “The purpose of these actions is to destroy the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which unites tens of millions of people,” said Zakharova.
The diplomat added that with his actions, Kiev continues its policy of moral terror against Ukrainians and believers.
On July 13, the Security Service of Ukraine announced to Metropolitan Pavlo that it had opened new suspicions under articles that the equality of citizens due to their religious beliefs was repeatedly violated and the Russian Federation justified its actions.
14 July Kyiv Solomensky District Court taken Under the supervision of the governor of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra until August 14.
Patriarch of Moscow and All-Russian Kirill prisoner He noted that the decision of the Ukrainian court and the change of preventive measure for the metropolitan threatens with a serious deterioration in health and can lead to his death in the pre-trial detention center.
Former Ukrainian authorities emerging plans to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.