Czech special services will check the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia for cooperation with the Russian Orthodox Church

The Czech Senate Security Committee called on the government to initiate an investigation of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia for cooperation with the Russian Orthodox Church. The committee believes that the OCCLS, through cooperation with the Russian Orthodox Church, has come under the influence of Russian special services. This was reported by the Czech media outlet ČTK.

The committee believes that the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, which is independent of the Russian Orthodox Church, has come under the influence of “persons associated with Russian security forces.” Fischer noted that the circumstances under which the meeting of this church took place on June 27 this year in the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Prague “may raise concerns about its legitimacy in connection with the election of its leaders and the disposal of its property.”

The committee also believes that the Czech government should instruct Interior Minister Vitus Rakusan to investigate the alleged criminal activities of members of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands. Fischer emphasized that freedom of religion and association should not be used for illegal influence by a hostile foreign state.

As reported, on March 29, 2023, Archbishop Michael of Prague, on behalf of his diocese, in an official appeal addressed to the Department for External Church Relations of the UOC, protested against pressure on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.