GOC calls Metropolitan Pavel's arrest "torture by the authorities"

The imprisonment of Metropolitan Pavel, the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, in the pre-trial detention centre is nothing but a continuation of torture against the UOC on the part of the political and judicial authorities of Ukraine. This is stated in the article of the Greek resource “Romfea”.

Greek journalists also drew attention to the bail amount of more than 33 million hryvnias, which the UOC hierarch may pay to the state in order to be released from custody.

The publication notes that the Ukrainian court released a person accused of murder on bail in the amount of 100,000 hryvnias, and a suspect in the case of selling children – in the amount of 1 million hryvnias.

Journalists also doubted the very evidence with which the prosecution proved the "guilt" of the bishop.

"During the trial, Metropolitan Pavel emphasised the personal rather than public nature of his telephone conversations. He also questioned the authenticity of some of the conversations, pointing out that he did not know the people whose voices were heard on the recording. It should be noted that the court did not take into account the bishop's objections, refusing to call as witnesses those persons who allegedly were the interlocutors," the publication added.

As reported, the court sent the Lavra abbot to jail.