Russia demanded the immediate release of the Orthodox priest Bishop Pavlo in Kyiv on Saturday, alleging that he incited religious hatred and justified the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A court in Kyiv ruled on Friday for his detention pending trial. Pavlo is a prominent figure in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and has been under house arrest since April.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated, "We demand strict compliance from the Kyiv ruling regime with international legal obligations and the immediate release of Bishop Pavlo, who suffers from a serious illness, and to provide him with appropriate medical care." Zakharova described his detention as "another manifestation of political arbitrariness and lawlessness" and linked the issue to Ukraine’s actions to expel Orthodox monks from a famous monastery in Kyiv.
Ukraine is taking measures against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church associated with Moscow, claiming it is loyal to Russia and collaborates with it. The church denies this, stating it cut all ties with Moscow last year. Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, on Saturday urged Pope Francis, the UN Secretary-General, and other religious and political figures to show support for the detained bishop. Kirill said, "I urge you to pay attention to the ongoing persecution of the recognized Ukrainian Orthodox Church and to take all possible measures to protect Bishop Pavlo... from unlawful prosecution."
