The Russian Orthodox Church issued a statement in connection with the detention of Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) in the Czech Republic

The Synodal Department for Relations between the Church and Society and the Media has expressed an official protest over the detention of Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) in the Czech Republic. The incident took place on May 24, 2026 in Karlovy Vary, where the retired hierarch was serving in the Church of the Holy First Apostles Peter and Paul.

According to the official website of the Moscow Patriarchate, the Russian Orthodox Church insists that clergymen lawfully in the territory of the European Union should be protected from unlawful criminal prosecution and enjoy all the rights and freedoms provided for. The statement emphasizes that the actions of the Czech law enforcement authorities raise serious questions for lawyers in terms of their legality and compliance with procedural norms.

The Church called on the investigative and judicial authorities of the Czech Republic to ensure strict observance of all the rights of Metropolitan Hilarion. For its part, the Moscow Patriarchate intends to take all measures provided for in international and national legislation to provide the necessary legal assistance to its cleric.