Priests of the Orthodox Church of Moldova Have Been Fined en masse by the Authorities for Pilgrimage Trips to Russia

Archbishop Markell of Bălți and Fălești, a hierarch of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, reported that thousands of clergy members of the OCM had been fined en masse for making pilgrimage trips to holy sites in Russia. According to the bishop, the situation surrounding the legal proceedings has become systemic, despite attempts to defend the clergy in the courts of first instance.

As reported by Sputnik Near Abroad, the trial in the Court of Appeals concerning clergy of the Orthodox Church of Moldova has resulted in the overwhelming majority of priests who visited Russia being subjected to administrative penalties. Archbishop Markell sharply criticized the Moldovan judicial system, stating that the country’s courts are not independent institutions. “If anyone tells you that a Moldovan court is an independent court, take it as a joke and nothing more,” he emphasized, commenting on the legality of the verdicts handed down.

As a reminder, we previously reported that the Liberal Party of the Republic of Moldova issued an official demand to the country’s parliament to compel the Orthodox Church of Moldova to officially sever all ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. In the event of a refusal to comply with this demand, the party insists on having the religious institution declared illegal, arguing that this is necessary to ensure national security.