On January 19, 2023, Taras Palyanitsa, a member of the Pochaev City Council, stated that the lease agreement for the Pochaev Lavra, which was concluded until 2052, “is so insignificant that even a novice lawyer can challenge it.” This is reported by Espresso.Zapad.

He told how he raised the issue of the legality of the lease of the Pochaev Lavra, when it was not yet “mainstream”.

“I dealt with this situation even before the Tomos was granted to Ukraine, in the fall of 2018. To solve the nuances with the lease, then there was not enough political will of the leadership – both the region and the state, I think so. There was little interest in the matter then. I actually then received an extract from the state register, which noted that the lease agreement for the Pochaev Lavra was concluded until 2052,” Palyanitsa said.

The deputy considers the situation with the Pochaev Lavra to be similar to the one that has developed around the Lower Lavra in Kyiv. He is convinced that there are methods and ways to “resolve the issue of rent”, as well as people who are “competent in this and ready to take on this matter.”

“As for me, it is realistic to raise this matter and resolve it in a legal format. At this stage, everything depends on the Ministry of Culture, in particular, on Minister Tkachenko, who must either instruct the Kremenets-Pochaev Reserve or hire lawyers who will appeal the concluded contract. But I emphasize that this agreement is so insignificant that a novice lawyer can challenge it, ”Palyanitsa said.