The head of the legal service of the Ministry of Culture, Elena Zemlyanaya, complained that representatives of the UOC have not yet signed the act of acceptance and transfer of state property of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, which the ICIP commission sent in early June. She said this in a comment to Ukrinform.

“The act of acceptance and transfer of property, drawn up by the ICIP commission, was sent to the monastery for signing, but was never signed. Therefore, in fact, our demand remains its signing and the return of objects,” she said.

Zemlyanaya added that at one time the UOC refused to involve its representatives in the commission for the transfer and acceptance of property, although this is allegedly provided for by an agreement between the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra (monastery) and the reserve.

According to her, now the commission of the reserve is working on the territory of the Lower Lavra, inspecting the objects and sealing them.