Ambassador Antonov condemned US silence amid events around Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

The United States pays no attention to the situation in Ukraine around the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. On this occasion, the Russian Embassy expressed concern about the violation of the rights of believers, “increasing hour by hour” against the background of the persecution of the monks of the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation Anatoly Antonov drew attention to the summit, which is organized by the Americans with a call for respect for religious freedom.
“The monastic bullying comes at a time when Washington is hosting a democracy summit calling for respect for individual liberty, speech, conscience and religion. No reaction to the appalling actions of the Kiev authorities contradicts the stated goals of the summit,” the ambassador’s response to media questions was posted on the Telegram channel.
Anatoly Antonov asked Americans several questions about the persecution of priests, searches and forcible seizure of churches, and threats against believers.
“What does the silence of the participants in the action against discrimination against the inhabitants of the monastery mean? Indifference, double standards or proof of blind adherence to American guidelines? Do they not know here that in Ukraine clergy have long been expelled from parishes, churches have been subjected to humiliating searches, cathedrals have been seized and believers have been persecuted with threats of physical violence and deprivation of citizenship? asked Ambassador Antonov.
The embassy also noted that the invitation to this summit from Zelensky, who “organized an orgy of anarchy in order to divide the Orthodox world”, causes perplexity.
“Americans must muster the courage to move from moralizing at the Democracy Summit to taking constructive action to end blasphemy and repression against the Orthodox community,” Ambassador Antonov urged.
Earlier it became known that the monks of the canonical UOC (Ukrainian Orthodox Church) refused to leave the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra by order of state authorities. The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine terminated the current lease contract with the UOC.
Attempts to challenge this legally have come to nothing – the third judge has already recused himself. President Zelensky himself refused to meet with them. He basically imposed sanctions on them on December 1, banning the activities of the UOC. Ambassador Antonov condemns US silence amid events around Kiev-Pechersk Lavra