Metropolitan Pavlo, abbot of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, was served with a notice of suspicion and placed under house arrest in Kyiv Oblast for inciting parishioners to block a Ministry of Culture commission conducting an inventory.

Pavlo incited parishioners to block the commission and threatened a journalist with a stick

A Culture Ministry commission failed to enter one of the Lavra facilities on March 30 because parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate blocked the entrance.

The commission from the Ministry of Culture was expected to arrive at 10 a.m. to begin the process of securing and transferring property on the site to the state.

"The Metropolitan Pavel of the Moscow Patriarchate said that the commission of the Ministry of Culture would not be allowed in the premises of the temple."

A commission of 15 people, including three representatives from the UOC MP monastery, attempted to inspect the Lavra on March 30 but found the first room locked.

Maryana Tomin reported that the building was closed because people were praying and singing, despite the monastery representatives being warned about the inspection.