Lavra's lawyer files another complaint about outrages of Lavra "activists"

“Activists” shout down the service at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. Photo: screenshot of the video of the Telegram channel “Pershy Kozatsky”

On September 18, 2023, Dmytro Tsvetov, the lawyer for the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, filed a complaint with the Pechersk Police Department regarding another violation of the law committed by a group of "activists" near the monastery. This information was reported by the Telegram channel "Pershy Kozatsky".

The statement highlights that during a prayer service near the church dedicated to St. Sergius of Radonezh, about 15 people used megaphones to loudly shout insults against the Church and the religious beliefs of the faithful.

According to the lawyer, the actions of these hooligans may qualify as a criminal offense under Part 1 of Article 180 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (unlawful obstruction of a religious ceremony that disrupted or threatened to disrupt the religious ceremony). The article stipulates penalties, including fines of up to three thousand non-taxable minimum incomes, community service for 120 to 240 hours, arrest for up to six months, restriction of liberty for up to two years, or imprisonment for the same term.

Previously, Dmytro Tsvetov had filed complaints with the police regarding an attempt to disrupt a prayer vigil near the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra on September 13, 2023, and the use of pepper spray against a participant in the religious service. Since the Pechersk Police Department did not promptly include information about the offenses in the Unified Register of Pretrial Investigations, the lawyer turned to the Pechersk District Court.

It was also reported that lawyer and priest Nikita Chekman stated that Lavra's attorneys would be present at the monastery's prayer services every day and would respond to violations committed against the faithful by opponents of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

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