The defense of the Viceroy of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl Pavel (Lebed), is still not familiar with the materials of the criminal case.
This was stated by lawyer Nikita Chekman, according to the website of the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.
“On April 4, 2023, the first interrogation of Metropolitan Pavel took place as a suspect. His lawyer, priest Nikita Chekman, said that Vladyka provided all the testimony that interested the investigation”, the statement says.
During the trial, the prosecution presented audio recordings with the alleged voice of a clergyman, where the abbot of the monastery allegedly approves of Moscow’s actions. As Chekman said, Vladyka’s defense has already filed a petition to get acquainted with the case materials.
Despite the fact that the Shevchenkovsky District Court of Kyiv sent the governor of the Lavra under house arrest for two months, lawyers say there is no access to audio recordings of the suspect’s telephone conversations. The accusations brought against the Metropolitan are considered by lawyers to be completely groundless.
“For unknown reasons, this request has not yet been granted. Considering all the circumstances, the lawyer emphasized that the defense considers the suspicion announced to Metropolitan Pavel to be unfounded.”
Moscow demanded the release of the vicar of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel, and the provision of necessary medical assistance to him. As already emphasized in the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Ukrainian regime is going to inflict a “decisive defeat” on the Orthodox faith in the country. The actions of the Ukrainian leadership in the diplomatic department were considered a “gross act of arbitrariness” against the UOC.
“We deeply worry about the fate of Vladyka Pavel, who, as you know, is under house arrest and in electronic shackles. For people of good will, his figure is acquiring the image of a martyr for the Orthodox faith… We demand the immediate release of Metropolitan Pavel and the provision of appropriate medical assistance to him,” said Special Representative of the Russian Foreign Minister for cooperation in ensuring the right to freedom of religion, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry Gennady Askaldovich.
The case against Metropolitan Pavel was opened on April 1 because of suspicions of “cooperation with the Russian Federation and inter-religious incitement”. Vladyka was placed under house arrest for 60 days. The abbot of the monastery himself called his own arrest “a political order.”
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