Lawyer: Police close all cases against 'activists' under Lavra

The Pechersk District Police Department. Photo: upload.wikimedia.org

The Pechersk District Police Department has closed all previously opened by court order criminal proceedings against anti-church "activists", who disrupted UOC worship services near the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, insulted the feelings of believers and incited religious hatred, reports Lavra's lawyer Archpriest Nikita Chekman in a video message on his Telegram channel.

"Coverage by law enforcement officials of open crimes of ‘activists’ against believers and clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has reached a new level," the lawyer said. “According to unofficial information, the head of the investigation of the Pechersk Police Department and his deputy closed all criminal proceedings in one day. Now we are verifying this information, filing the appropriate petitions".

The priest noted that in total the police closed more than 20 such criminal cases.

"This is a spit in the face of all believers of the UOC. One should hate their citizens so much to go for such open violations!" stressed Fr. Nikita.

He recalled that previously the police ignored all statements about the crimes of "activists", which were filed by Lavra's lawyers, and then delayed the implementation of court decisions to open criminal proceedings.

The lawyer noted that law enforcers all over the country act in the same way: "We see how in the regions, the police completely cover up illegal actions in the seizures of churches. The police become participants in these illegal actions. But everything will have its time. Everyone will be held accountable."

The priest urged the believers not to lose hope in the Providence of God and reminded them that "no one will ever be able to buy off the judgement of God and 'get away with it' thanks to their posts and influence."

"We are fighting, we are defending our rights to pray in our shrines, we are standing up for a just cause, and may God help us. We will not give up, we will come to the police, and demand explanations, we will come to all the officials who made these illegal decisions and demand to answer to society, before their people, why they hate their citizens so much," said Fr. Nikita.

Earlier, Archpriest Nikita Chekman said what manipulations the officials of the Pechersk District Police Department resorted to in order not to execute court decisions to open criminal cases against "activists" under the Lavra.

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