SBU begins searching abbot of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra
The search is conducted under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor's Office of the Kiev region for "inciting sectarian hatred".
On the morning of November 30, The SBU began to search through the place of residence of the abbot of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl, reports the Security Service (SBU) site.
“The Ukrainian Security Service is conducting searches at the place of residence of the head of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Metropolitan Pavel according to Art 161/2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine on the violation of the equal rights of citizens due to their race, nationality, or religion,” the Security Service reported.
The UOC Informational and Education Department reported that the search was taking place in vil. Voronki of the Borispol district, Kiev region.
According to the press service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, three buses full of Security Service employees arrived at the dependency at 9:00 this morning to carry out the search.
The Security Service seized only one book – “The Ukrainian Orthodox Church: Relations with the State. The Attitude Towards the Conflict in Donbass and to the Church Schism. Questions and Answers”.
As the UOJ reported, at a briefing that took place on Thursday at the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl spoke about pressure from state authorities and noted that he did not rule out that he would be searched through by Ukrainian special services. “If there is really such pressure, if there are searches, I will not stand aside. Let them go and search. I have no forbidden literature, I have absolutely nothing that would be a threat to my Homeland. But I will defend the interests of the Church!” said the abbot of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.
