Representatives of the Donetsk regional administration said that they could not transfer the Holy Assumption Svyatogorsk Lavra to the OCU because it contradicts the norms of Ukrainian legislation. The Donetsk regional administration hopes that the situation will be changed by the adoption of draft law No 8371 aimed at banning the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. About it reports “Free radio”.

“So far, the transfer of real estate objects from the ownership of the Lavra to the state and/or communal property can be carried out in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On the transfer of objects of state and communal property rights” only with the consent of the Lavra. At present, the regional military administration has no legal grounds for forced alienation of the Lavra’s property,” the Donets Autonomous Administration of Ukraine said.

At the same time, the Donetsk regional administration reports that if the Ukrainian parliament passes the bill No. 8371, the Sviatogorsk Lavra could be transferred to the OCU or open a museum in it.

“Thus, the entry into force of the draft of this Law will provide legal grounds for banning the activities of the above-mentioned religious organizations and alienating their property in favor of the state on the territory of Ukraine. Thus, officials have no legal grounds to take away the Svyatogorskaya Lavra from the UOC-MP for subsequent transfer either to other religious or communal organizations (for example, a museum)” , – specify officials.

We shall remind you that earlier we reported that the ancient Uspensky (St. George’s) Cathedral of the XIII century, previously expropriated by the state from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, now stands closed. The Cherkasy Regional State Administration said that the temple may become part of the Shevchenko National Reserve.