In the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, a statement was made public regarding the criminal prosecution of Metropolitan Pavel

The criminal proceedings against Metropolitan Pavel are fabricated and aimed at removing him from the leadership of the Lavra. This is stated in the published statement of the press service of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

Metropolitan Pavel was informed of the suspicion of justifying the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and of humiliating the honor and dignity of citizens in connection with their religious beliefs. On April 1, 2023, copies of procedural documents were published in the media, which contain the text from the message of suspicion to Lebed P.D., in particular, his quote is given: “I really, we all pray that the Lord save Ukraine.”

“We emphasize that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into the territory of Ukraine, Metropolitan Pavel has always condemned armed aggression, prayed for peace, the health of the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and all those who suffered from the war. Metropolitan Pavel believes that the criminal proceedings against him were fabricated and aimed at eliminating him as the head of a religious organization, limiting the representation of the interests of the monastery, clergy, monks and parishioners,» the statement says.

On April 1, 2023, the governor of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, during the consideration by the court of a petition for a measure of restraint in the form of house arrest, stated that he would cooperate with the investigation in order to prove his innocence.

“The right to a fair trial occupies a central place in the system of global values of a democratic society, therefore we hope for impartiality, completeness of pre-trial investigation and fair trial in criminal proceedings,” the press service noted.