Evicted Kyiv Monks Refuse to Leave Complex

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Facts

• Tensions ran high at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra complex — also known as the Monastery of the Caves — after representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) refused to leave the premises despite an eviction order set to go into force on Wednesday.¹
• The UOC-MP condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and cut ties with the Russian Orthodox Church last May. However, it was later accused of covertly maintaining ties to Moscow, and dozens of its sites were raided by the Security Service of Ukraine which allegedly discovered propaganda material supporting Russia's invasion. In December, Ukraine's government — which owns the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra — said it would not renew the UOC-MP's lease of the site, set to expire on March 30.²
• On Wednesday, amid rain and snow in Kyiv, hundreds of worshippers arrived at the complex to protest the eviction. Armed police were on hand to conduct searches of cars to ensure none of the site's ancient relics were illegally smuggled away.¹
• However, on the same day, the head of the UOC-MP Metropolitan Pavlo announced that he had initiated a lawsuit with the Commercial Court of Kyiv, stating he would not vacate the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra until the matter had been dealt with in the courts. 'The law is on our side,' he said, continuing: 'We will stay in the Lavra until the trial is over. We have a long-term contract that cannot be terminated during wartime.'³
• Archpriest Nikita Chekman, a lawyer for the UOC-MP, said that a preliminary hearing for the case had been set for April 26. 'We pray for the restoration of the violated rights of the UOC parishioners and the adoption of a fair court decision' he said.⁴
• Meanwhile, Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said the UOC-MP would not be forcibly evicted from the premises, though he said he expects them to leave. 'If someone thinks that he has the right not to follow the laws of our country, then he is deeply mistaken... The laws of Ukraine must be followed by everyone.'⁵
• Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also addressed the situation in his nightly address on Wednesday, saying that the move to evict the UOC-MP was taken to 'strengthen the spiritual independence of our state, to protect our society from the old and cynical Moscow manipulation of religion.'⁶

Sources: ¹Kyivpost, ²Euromaidan press, ³Yahoo news, ⁴The eastern herald, ⁵Radiofreeeurope/radioliberty and ⁶President.

Narratives

• Anti-Russia narrative, as provided by Euromaidan press. Despite claiming to have severed links with the Moscow Orthodox Church, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate never officially cut ties with the organization, and Ukraine's Security Service subsequently found that it was covertly aiding Russia's illegal war aims. The majority of Ukrainians support outlawing the UOC-MP.
• Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by Tass. While Ukraine's American allies host the 'Summit for Democracy,' Kyiv is carrying out a gross attack on religious rights and freedoms. If the US truly wanted to uphold liberties and democratic rights across the globe, it would not be silent on this grotesque violation. Ukraine is discriminating against religious believers.

Predictions