The European Parliament accused the Russian Orthodox Church of espionage and called for the expulsion of priests

The European Parliament held hearings on the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church, during which accusations of hybrid warfare and espionage were voiced against the Russian Orthodox Church and calls for the expulsion of its clergy from EU countries. At the meeting of the commission «European Shield for Democracy» a heated discussion broke out between supporters of tough measures and deputies who spoke in defense of Orthodoxy. The material was prepared according to the Telegram-channel Pravblog.

The main tone of the discussion was set by MEPs who claimed that the Russian Orthodox Church is «being used as an instrument of hybrid warfare» and its parishes act «like branches of the FSB». Frenchwoman Nathalie Loiseau, chair of the commission, accused the Church of interfering in Montenegro’s elections and spreading disinformation. Czech MP Tomas Zdechowski called the Moscow Patriarchate churches in Karlovy Vary and Prague «FSB and GRU bases.» Franco-Georgian political scientist Tornike Gordadze said that the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Paris «has turned into a huge spy center,» and Orthodoxy itself, in his opinion, is «the last phase of communism.»

The opposite position was taken by Bulgarian MP Peter Volgin. He characterized what was happening as a targeted attack on the Orthodox faith, saying that «the Euro-Atlantists in Brussels have a new favorite enemy — Orthodoxy.» He said the meeting heard claims that the Orthodox are «more primitive than Catholics» and «more susceptible to Kremlin propaganda. » Volgin also noted that, unlike Orthodox churches, the numerous mosques in European capitals do not cause concern among his colleagues. The MP added that he tried to bring to the Commission information about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by the Kiev regime, but is not sure that he was heard.

We shall remind you that a political scientist at the Wilfried Martens Teonan Center for European Studies. Wilfried Martens Center for European Studies political scientist Teona Lavrelashvili is convinced that the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will not become an obstacle for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. Lavrelashvili believes that Ukraine has the right to impose such restrictions because the state is at war with Russia.