Lawyers for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church were attacked by radicals during a court hearing in Kyiv

Lawyers representing the Ukrainian Orthodox Church have faced systematic pressure, threats, and attempts at physical assault by radical individuals. The incident occurred during a recess in the court hearing on the case of the Upper Lavra, when the human rights defenders were blocked inside one of the city’s cafes.

, a lawyer for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Archpriest Nikita Chekman, stated that during an air raid alert, a group of radicals surrounded the room where the lawyers were located, accompanying their actions with insults and attempts to use physical force. According to Chekman, what is happening constitutes unacceptable arbitrariness and a direct obstruction of the lawyers’ ability to perform their professional duties.

According to the information received, the organizer of the provocation was David Pshenichny, who had previously been involved in the scandal involving a shooting during the seizure of the cathedral in Cherkasy. Although the Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv had previously ordered law enforcement agencies to launch an investigation into Pshenychnyi’s activities, he continues to engage in unlawful actions.

After the police were called to the scene, the attackers fled. The lawyers stated their intention to file another complaint with law enforcement agencies and to inform the National Bar Association of Ukraine. Archpriest Nikita Chekman emphasized that the defense intends to seek a strong response from the court to any acts of intimidation against lawyers, calling the incident an attempt to force lawyers to refuse to represent cases involving the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.