Maksim Ostapenko: Legal proceedings in cases involving the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra are being "dragged out" due to widespread recusals of judges

Maksym Ostapenko, Director General of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve, reported serious difficulties in court proceedings concerning church property and the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. According to him, over the past three years, approximately 18 judges have recused themselves or requested to be recused, which has significantly slowed the progress of the cases in court.

In an interview with the “Shelter” project at , Maksym Ostapenko emphasized that the current situation highlights the flaws in a system that allows the parties to the proceedings to drag out the consideration of issues almost indefinitely. In his view, legal and judicial practice in this case relies on a formal adherence to the letter of the law, which hinders the prompt adoption of decisions.

“It seems to me, unfortunately, that not everyone in our society realizes that we find ourselves in one of the most brutal wars,” Ostapenko noted. He expressed confidence that, under wartime conditions, the judicial system must first and foremost be guided by the priorities of protecting the interests of the state and the Constitution of Ukraine, rather than by formal procedural loopholes that allow justice to be postponed indefinitely.

As a reminder, earlier, OCU cleric Georgy Kovalenko commented on the current situation surrounding the eviction of monks of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, emphasizing the deliberate delay of legal proceedings. According to Kovalenko, the monastic community of the UOC should be dealt with “under wartime laws,” and only then should the legality of such a decision be examined in court.