Consideration of the case on the use of the Yelets Monastery was suspended

On May 16, 2023, the Economic Court of the Chernihiv Region ruled on the case of the use of the Yelets Monastery by representatives of the diocese of the UOC, namely, to stop the consideration of the case and give the parties three months to negotiate, reports Suspіlne.

Previously, the diocese of the UOC used the monastery on the basis of an agreement on free use signed with the Chernihiv Ancient Reserve. These contracts were renewed every five years. The latter expired in September 2021.

Under the new legislation, now the memo can only be rented. At the end of February 2023, the reserve asked the Chernihiv diocese to release three architectural monuments, including the Yelets Monastery, and return the property to the state by March 28.

The diocese of the UOC filed lawsuits with a request to recognize the old contracts as extended, but «Chernihiv Ancient» considers them invalid.

In the end, both parties filed a motion to stay the proceedings and introduce the mediation procedure.

«There was a dialogue between the parties, during which the parties nevertheless came to an agreement that the court proceedings are court proceedings, but the negotiation process, it will be more favorable. Therefore, the Economic Court of the Chernihiv region decided to suspend the proceedings for the period of mediation, but not more than 90 days,» says Oleksandr Shamko, a representative of the Chernihiv diocese of the UOC.