The Ukrainian authorities want to evict most of the monks from the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, using negotiations, pressure and bribery, RIA Novosti reports, citing sources familiar with the situation.

The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine plans to evict 90 percent of the monks from the Lavra, leaving only 20 clergymen out of 200 living on the territory of the monastery, the source said.

According to the source, it became known that employees of the Ministry of Culture offered one of the residents a leadership position in return for agreeing to work for the department.

In addition, the ministry tried to negotiate with the treasurer of the monastery, Metropolitan Varsonofiy of Vinnitsa and Barsky (Joiner), the agency reports. However, he replied that all the monks, without exception, should remain in the monastery.

Earlier, a court in Kyiv extended the house arrest to the abbot of the Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel, for 60 days. Representatives of the viceroy promised to appeal against this decision.

The Metropolitan was sent under arrest in early April. According to Pavel, the Security Service of Ukraine suspected him of working for Russia and inciting religious hatred.