Warm Sophia was transferred to Kyiv Patriarchate in violation of the law, – expert

A copy of the agreement on the free use by the UOC-KP of an architectural monument – the Refectory (Warm Sophia) indicates that the church was handed over to the Kyiv Patriarchate unlawfully, reports the NGO "Public Advocacy".

"The preliminary analysis of this agreement showed that it was concluded in violation of Article 17 of the Law of Ukraine "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations", which provides that cult property, which is state property, can be transferred to free use only by decision of the Kyiv City (Region) Administration", said the statement of the NGO "Public Advocacy".

In addition, in accordance with Part 5 of Article 17 of the Law of Ukraine "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations", an application for the transfer of a religious building for free use should have been considered within a month with written notification of the applicants. The Kiev Metropolitanate of the UOC for many years sought to transfer this complex for use, but received no such notice.

Human rights defenders have repeatedly requested to provide them with documents which allow representatives of the Kyiv Patriarchate to serve in the Warm Sophia. The National Reserve authoroties answered that they were "unaware of the decisions (orders, regulations) of a state body or an official about the transfer of the Lesser (Warm) Sophia Church for the use by the UOC-Kyiv Patriarchate or other religious organization, because the Reserve had not received any to its address".