Ostapenko: Despite terminated contract, UOC must pay Lavra’s utility bills
The UOC should pay for communal services in the Lavra until the final return of the property to the Reserve, Ostapenko said.
Acting head of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve Maksym Ostapenko wrote in a letter addressed to lawyer Viktoria Kokhanovska that despite the fact that the agreement between the Reserve and the UOC has been terminated, the UOC must pay communal charges in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
The letter was published on Viktoria Kokhanovska’s Facebook page.
"In accordance with Agreement No. 2 dated July 19, 2013 (hereinafter – the Agreement) between the Reserve and the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra/Monastery/UOC (hereinafter – the User), the User is obliged to pay for utilities and make payments related to the maintenance of property that is in use. The Contract has been terminated with effect from 29 March 2023. The process of returning the property (facilities) to the Reserve is underway. Thus, until the final return of the property, payment for utilities must be made by the User," Ostapenko wrote.
As earlier reported, Ostapenko complained that the Reserve has no money to maintain the Lower Lavra.