Poturaev on Lavra eviction: We have to wait for a court decision

Nikita Poturaev. Photo: a screenshot of the Radio Liberty YouTube channel

On 7 April 2023, an MP of the People's Servant faction, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy Nikita Poturaev said that they have to wait on the eviction of monks from the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra until a court decision.

Commenting on the terms of the UOC monks' stay in the Lavra, Poturaev told Radio Liberty: "On the terms of stay, I urge everyone to be realistic, because the state has taken absolutely legal decisions."

According to him, "the Ukrainian state had the right to make these decisions and they should have been implemented by now. But these decisions are being appealed in court. And if we have to wait for a court ruling which, I am convinced, will confirm the legality of these decisions, then we should wait".

Poturaev also said that European practice requires that "such decisions have judicial confirmation".

"Therefore, if it is necessary to wait longer, it is worth waiting, so that there will be no problems with appealing these decisions in the future. So that none of the so-called experts or journalists, including those abroad, question these decisions so that it is simply impossible to do so," the Servant of the People MP added.

As reported, Poturaev "does not rule out" that the issue with Lavra will have to be resolved in court.

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