Photo credit: 1tv.ru
The Russian Foreign Ministry and the Moscow Patriarchate called the decision of the Ukrainian court on the detention of the vicar of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel, repression and lawlessness. The official representative of the Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova called the decision another manifestation of "political arbitrariness and legal lawlessness", as well as "moral terror" in Ukraine.
On July 14, the Solomensky Court of Kyiv changed the measure of restraint for the priest from house arrest to a one-month detention. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the accusations against the metropolitan are far-fetched.
Zakharova stressed that the detention of the priest is ''a gross violation of the rights of Orthodox Christians by the Kyiv regime,'' which runs counter to the fundamental documents of international law.
Zakharova noted that the purpose of the unprecedented pressure on the priests and parishioners of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church is its destruction. The Russian MFA issued a demand to Kyiv on strict observance of international legal obligations, on the release of Metropolitan Pavel and the provision of medical assistance to him.
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', criticized the decision of the Kyiv court. He sent a message to the primates of local Orthodox churches, the Pope of Rome and other religious figures, as well as representatives of international structures.
In it, the patriarch called the court's decision unjust and taken under pressure from the Kyiv authorities. According to Cyril, the purpose of this act was an attempt to intimidate believers. ''A religious figure cannot and should not be subjected to such repressive measures for his religious beliefs,'' the patriarch said and called for efforts to release the metropolitan.
Russkiy Mir
