Russia is calling for the immediate release of Metropolitan Pavel, the abbot of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, who remains under house arrest following a court order. This demand was published in a statement on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Grand Ambassador, Gennady Askaldovich, who serves as the Special Representative for cooperation in safeguarding freedom of religion. The ministry’s site carries the message.
According to the special representative, there is a plea for Metropolitan Pavel’s swift release and for him to receive proper medical care. He noted that, despite appeals from Moscow, international organizations have not responded to the situation surrounding the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.
Askaldovich argued that Kyiv persists in defending a disputed view of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s role within the country and, with visible discontent, has even accepted a call from the UN human rights monitoring mission to end discrimination towards the canonical church.
The Russian diplomat stressed outrage over what he described as another instance of arbitrary actions against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, expressing concern for the welfare of the Lavra’s priests and monks, including Metropolitan Pavel.
In this context, he criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for stating that Ukraine offers the greatest religious freedom, calling the remark cynical.
On April 1, a Kyiv court issued preventive measures against Metropolitan Pavel (Lebed), ordering two months of house arrest and barring him from addressing believers. The cleric faces charges alleging incitement of inter-religious hatred, possibly tied to his critical comments about Ukraine’s schismatic Orthodox Church. Pavel maintains that a lawsuit was brought against him.