Metropolitan Hilarion released from detention in Czech Republic

Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and his accompanying driver have been released from custody in the Czech Republic after being detained on suspicion of drug possession. According to Euronews, the incident occurred on Sunday when containers of white powder were found in the trunk of the clergyman’s car. As of now, no charges have been filed against the metropolitan and he has been released without any procedural restrictions, including signing not to leave.

According to information from the metropolitan’s Telegram channel, an expert examination confirmed that the substance found was a banned substance, but the metropolitan’s side categorically denies his involvement in the incident. The bishop said he had never been involved in drug trafficking and insisted on a «full, independent and procedurally flawless verification» of the incident. The prosecutor of the Czech city of Kladno, Petr Dluchos, confirmed the detention, noting that the investigation into the case will continue.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has already reacted to the situation, calling the detention a «purposeful provocation. The ministry emphasized that the purpose of the incident was to denigrate both the metropolitan and Orthodoxy as a whole. In this connection, the Czech Charge d’Affaires Jan Ondřejka was summoned to the Foreign Ministry, to whom a strong protest was lodged demanding the unconditional release of Metropolitan Hilarion.