UOC Law Department demands an investigation into demolition of Tithe Church

Demolition of the Tithe Church of the UOC at night on May 17, 2024. Photo: babel.ua

The Legal Department of the UOC demands that law enforcement agencies investigate the circumstances of the demolition of the Vladimir-Olga Church of the Tithe Monastery of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, as well as open a criminal case regarding abuse of power by the state executor.

The Legal Department of the UOC stated that the demolition of the Tithe Church was unlawful and termed these actions as arbitrariness. The document underscores the historical, cultural, and religious significance of the Tithe Church, as it was the first stone sanctuary of the Kyivan land, consecrated at the end of the 10th century. The UOC has all legal grounds for the church; ownership rights were granted to it in 2012.

It is noted that the demolition of the sanctuary occurred on the order of the state executor within the framework of enforcement proceedings. At the same time, the UOC had repeatedly appealed to the courts to protect its rights, but its statements and complaints were not properly considered.

It is also noted that the demolition of the church is the third case of such arbitrariness against UOC churches in the last two years. Moreover, interference in the activities of UOC religious communities is systematic and associated with the activities of certain organizations and political figures seeking to violate the right to freedom of religion.

"In particular, on February 14, 2022, the premises housing the church of the UOC religious community in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk were demolished, and on April 6, 2023, in Lviv, the church of the UOC religious community in honor of Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr was demolished," the UOC reports.

The Legal Department has appealed to law enforcement agencies with a demand: to investigate the circumstances of the church's demolition and take action against those responsible; to open a criminal case regarding abuse of power by the state executor.

"We appeal to the General Prosecutor's Office of Ukraine, the State Bureau of Investigations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine to investigate the circumstances related to the enforcement proceedings for the demolition of the Vladimir-Olga Church of the Tithe Monastery of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In addition, we request to consider this statement as an official application for the registration of a criminal case and as a basis for conducting an audit of the activities of Victoria Molotilova, senior state executor of the Shevchenkivskyi department of the State Executive Service in Kyiv," the statement reads.

UOC lawyers also ask the respective structural units of law enforcement agencies to "initiate urgent measures to comply with international obligations, including decisions of the European Court of Human Rights regarding non-interference by the state in the activities of religious organizations."

As reported by the UOJ, UOC attorney Archpriest Nikita Chekman wrote on his Facebook that the overnight demolition of the Tithe Monastery was illegal, as no documents regarding the dismantling of the shrine were included in the Unified Enforcement Proceedings Register.

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