Kiev, April 27, 2023
Photo: news.church.ua
Following the Economic Court of Kiev’s decision yesterday, the state must provide its report on supposed violations of usage of the Kiev Caves Lavra to the monastery so it can properly prepare for the related court case.
The monastery has been under state control since the Soviet Union, controlled by the Kiev Caves Lavra National Reserve, which has continuously refused to produce its report, claiming the document is classified for “official use.”
The court held the first preparatory hearing yesterday in the monastery’s suit to invalidate the Reserve’s unilateral breaking of the agreement allowing the Church to use the Lower Lavra, the Education-Information Department of the UOC reports.
The monastery’s lawyer, Archpriest Nikita Chekman, is hopeful that the court’s ruling that the monastery be allowed access to the inspection report in order to prepare for the case indicates that the procedure will be objective and comprehensive.
“The court also called on the parties to observe the principle of good faith and to provide all available evidence in the case,” Fr. Nikita said.
The consideration of the case was also postponed until May 19 to allow the monastery time to get acquainted with the Reserve’s report and to prepare its arguments accordingly.
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