Court upholds house arrest of Metropolitan Pavel of Ukrainian Orthodox Church

MOSCOW. June 30 (Interfax) - The Solomensky District Court of Kiev has extended a measure of restraint in the form of house arrest imposed on Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra superior Metropolitan Pavel (Pyotr Lebed) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow patriarchate), Ukrainian media outlets said, citing the Suspilne television channel.

Lebed's lawyer requested that the pre-trial restrictions be mitigated by being replaced with release on personal recognizance or house arrest only during nighttime, the TV channel said. The prosecution sought the continuation of around-the-clock house arrest.

As reported, on April 6, the metropolitan's defense appealed against the restrictive measure at the Kiev Court of Appeals.

On April 1, the Ukrainian Security Service said that it had collected a justified evidence base of Metropolitan Pavel's involvement in incitement of religious enmity and justification of Russia's actions against Ukraine.

On April 1, the Shevchenkovsky District Court of Kiev chose a measure of restraint for Metropolitan Pavel in the form of around-the-clock house arrest for 60 days.