Ukrainian court puts Orthodox leader under house arrest
The Hindu
A Ukraine court has ordered a leading priest, suspected of justifying Russian aggression, to be put under house arrest
A Kyiv court ordered a leading priest to be put under house arrest Saturday after Ukraine's top security agency said he was suspected of justifying Russian aggression, a criminal offense. It was the latest move in a bitter dispute over a famed Orthodox monastery.
Metropolitan Pavel is the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery, Ukraine’s most revered Orthodox site. He has denied the charges and resisted the authorities' order to vacate the complex.
In a court hearing earlier in the day, the metropolitan said the claim by the Security Service of Ukraine, known as the SBU, that he condoned Russia’s invasion was politically driven.
“I have never been on the side of aggression,” Pavel told reporters in the courthouse. “This is my land.”
After the court's ruling, a monitoring bracelet was placed around his ankle, despite his objections that he has diabetes and should not wear it.
“I am accepting this,” he said shortly before the bracelet was attached. “Christ was crucified on the cross, so why shouldn’t I accept this?”
Earlier in the week, he cursed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, threatening him with damnation.
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