After sealing the buildings of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the Preserve restricted the access of believers “for technical reasons” to services. As a result, people were forced to take communion through the bars on the territory.

This is reported by the Information and Education Department of the UOC, stating that “such actions of the Reserve grossly violate the constitutional rights of citizens of Ukraine.”

“Article 35 of the Constitution of Ukraine protects freedom of religion, which includes the right to “single or collectively perform religious cults and ritual rites without hindrance, to conduct religious activities.” At the same time, the Constitution clearly regulates the grounds for restricting the exercise of this right, which provides for compliance with the following requirements: (1) such restriction must be provided for by law; (2) there must be a real threat to the maintenance of public order, the health and morals of the population or the protection of the rights and freedoms of other people.