In the middle of winter, the state evicted the nuns of the Baturyn Monastery of the UOC, taking away the monastery's premises

An incident occurred in the National Historical and Cultural Reserve “Hetman’s Capital” with the eviction of the sisters of the Baturyn Krupytsia St. Nicholas Convent of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Chernihiv region). According to representatives of the monastery, the actions were carried out without a court decision and with the participation of law enforcement agencies, despite the existence of a valid agreement for the use of the premises and the official registration of the nuns at their place of residence.

According to the First Cossack, the incident occurred on the morning of January 27, when the head of the Hetman’s Capital Reserve, with the participation of police officers, actually evicted the nuns. At the same time, the living quarters were sealed, personal belongings were left inside, and even stoves were lit, which endangers safety and property. The lawyer, Archpriest Nikita Chekman, emphasized that the nuns have no other accommodation than the cells of the monastery, where they are officially registered as their place of residence.

Representatives of the monastery point to the illegality of the actions, since the monastery and the reserve signed a contract for the use of the premises, the term of which is set to expire on January 27, 2026. Moreover, according to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 634 of May 27, 2022, the user (tenant) has the right to an automatic extension of the agreement for the period of martial law. It is noted that there are no court decisions on termination of use or eviction.

In this regard, lawyers are preparing statements to law enforcement agencies, arguing that the actions of the head of the reserve and law enforcement officers involved in the eviction may fall under Articles 356 (arbitrariness) and 365 (abuse of power or official authority) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provide for a sentence of 2 to 10 years in prison and a ban on holding public office. During the eviction, the official told the nuns that “the state is taking back what never belonged to them and was not built by them.”

A team of lawyers is preparing lawsuits to protect the sisters’ rights. In addition, representatives of the monastery call for maximum publicity about what happened, calling it “another act of lawlessness and savagery” against the Church and defenseless people, and ask to pray for the nuns.

Earlier, we reported that the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) initiated a study on the possible affiliation of the Holy Protection Holosiivska Desert Monastery of the Kyiv Metropolis of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with a foreign religious organization banned in Ukraine – the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). This decision was made against the backdrop of a significant public outcry and media reports concerning the monastery’s activities.