Court Orders Police to Open Case Against Acting Director of Lavra Reserve

On June 3, the court granted the complaint of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra brotherhood regarding police inaction in a case concerning offenses against the monastery. The case involves the actions of Svitlana Kotliarevska, Acting Director General of the National Reserve «Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra», who is suspected of inciting religious hatred. This was reported by the Lavra’s lawyer, Nikita Chekman.

According to him, the court obliged the authorized officers of the Podil District Police Department of the National Police in Kyiv to enter the relevant information into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations (URPTI). The criminal proceedings were opened under Part 2 of Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — incitement of religious enmity committed by an official.

“Svitlana Kotliarevska is suspected of inciting religious hatred during a meeting with the head of the OCU,” the lawyer stated.

As a reminder, on May 27, 2025, the head of the OCU, Epiphanius Dumenko, held a meeting with the Acting Head of the National Reserve «Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra», Svitlana Kotliarevska. The parties discussed further cooperation and the removal of the Lavra «from the influence of Moscow Patriarchate structures.»