Today, Metropolitan Pavlo (Lebid) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) was released from custody, the church has said on Telegram.
"On 7 August, Metropolitan Pavlo of Vyshhorod and Chornobyl was released on bail. After he was released from the remand centre, the bishop addressed the brethren and all the faithful and thanked them for their support," it added.
Lawyer Mykyta Chekman noted that Metropolitan Pavlo was released on bail in the amount of UAH 33 million. According to him, the church published the bank details so that "everyone could join and pay the bail". About 1,000 people have allegedly contributed towards the goal.
On 1 April, Kyiv's Shevchenkivskyy district court placed Pavlo under a round-the-clock house arrest. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) notified him of suspicion of justifying and denying Russian armed aggression against Ukraine (Article 161 of the Criminal Code), as well as violating the equality of citizens based on their racial, national and regional affiliation (Article 436-2 of the Criminal Code).
The special service also published photos and intercepted telephone conversations of the Metropolitan. On them, Pavlo can be heard rejoicing in the capture of Kherson by Russian troops. He also talks about "American biolabs" and calls the defenders of Ukraine "bastards". The metropolitan says that he is in touch with Moscow and calls for prayers for Russian Patriarch Kirill.
On 13 July, law-enforcement officers served the abbot of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra of the UOC-MP with a new notice of suspicion under the same two articles of the Criminal Code: Part 2 of Article 161 and Part 3 of Article 436-2. They provide for up to five years in prison.
Initially, the court placed the cleric under a round-the-clock house arrest with an obligation to wear an electronic bracelet. However, because he was communicating with one of the witnesses in the criminal case, he was placed in custody with an option of bail of more than UAH 33 million.