I might be mistaken, but I assume the churches in question were seized by the Orthodox under the guidance of the Communist Party in the late 1940's when Catholics were forced into the Orthodox Church.
Come to think of it, maybe the big St. Nick's church in question was seized by the communist government, used by it, and never used by the Orthodox, but the Orthodox are fighting the church's repatriation to Catholics because they think the Catholics are getting a freebie.
Okay, thanks. I guess you could make the case the the statute limitations was "tolled" under the circumstances.