Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra worshippers blocking work of inspectors who arrived to take back property

MOSCOW. March 30 (Interfax) - Several dozen members of an inspection commission arrived at the Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra on Thursday morning to take back the monastery buildings from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) on behalf of the state.

Ukrainian media outlets circulated video footage showing UOC followers almost immediately blocking the commission's work. They have encircled the commission members and are not allowing them to enter the buildings the inspectors wish to check. The worshippers are continuously singing Orthodox prayers.

Law enforcement officers who arrived at the monastery in the morning are currently not intervening.