Total area of new buildings in Kyiv-Pechersk Reserve territory excedes 20,000 m2 

He shared his opinions with Espreso TV.

"We are now in a situation where the initiative is taken by the abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery, Pavlo, who is filing a lawsuit, defending something. And no one notices any accusations or violations on the part of the business entity on the territory of 25 hectares. However, everyone knows or has heard that more than 20 buildings with a total area of more than 20,000 m2  have been built anew on the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Reserve. And this is a matter for judicial investigation. I have repeatedly spoken in the press and said that more than two dozen buildings have been built anew on the territory of the national shrine, the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery, with an area of 25 hectares, with 144 objects and structures," emphasized the former director general of the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Reserve.

Serhiy Krolevets noted that all this was recorded by commissions, including the Society for the Protection of Monuments.

"Several monuments have been demolished, altered, distorted, completed, added on, and the whole complex of the architectural gem of Ukraine has been destroyed during the business entity's stay on the territory of the Kyiv-Pechersk Reserve. There is a list of these objects. For example, the gate, which was built in the middle of the 19th century, was demolished along with the building, and instead another, wider and higher gate was built of modern hollow brick. And the old Kyiv heavy-duty bricks were stacked in the yard. All this was recorded, as well as the license plates of the trucks that transported the bricks. Everyone was informed, including the Ministry of Culture. There are dozens of such examples. This should be the subject of discussion: how did the business entity manage to make sure that a completely different object is under UNESCO protection? We need to talk about this, the losses caused by the business entity to the tune of millions and billions of hryvnias should be calculated," Krolevets said.

• On March 29, the UOC (MP) had to leave the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery: the parishioners gathered on the territory of the reserve, a liturgy was held, and representatives of the patriarchate filed a lawsuit against the termination of the lease agreement. Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture claimed that until the Economic Court makes a decision to secure the petition of the UOC (MP), its representatives have no legal grounds to stay on the territory of the monastery.

• On March 30, it became known that the commission of the Ministry of Culture, which was supposed to inspect two buildings of the Lavra, was being obstructed by the parishioners: representatives of the UOC (MP) did not leave the reserve, and Metropolitan Pavlo was summoned to the SBU. Also, the UOC (MP) did hold a service in the Kyiv-Perchersk Monastery. Although it was supposed to vacate the buildings on March 29.

• Also, Metropolitan Pavlo Lebid of the Moscow Church tried to knock out the microphone of an Espreso correspondent. The police opened proceedings on the fact of obstructing the activities of journalists near the Lavra.

• On March 30, the Kyiv Economic Court refused to secure the claim of the UOC (MP) against the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery Reserve regarding the illegality of the unilateral termination of the contract. Also on this day, the government recognized as invalid the 2013 decree on the transfer of buildings and structures of the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery to the UOC (MP) monastery for free use.

• On March 31, parishioners and representatives of the UOC (MP)  prevented the commission of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy from entering the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery for the second time.

• Later, Metropolitan Pavlo Lebid of the Moscow Patriarchate church said that SBU investigators had served him with a suspicion notice and that his home would be searched on April 1. This was later confirmed by the SBU.