Nadezhda Romanenko, Politologist
Bishop of Moldova Marchel.© Diocese of Bielców and Fălești
On Thursday, the Moldovan authorities decided to detain Bishop Marchel of the Moldovan Metropolitan, a metropolis subject to the Russian Orthodox Church, at the global Airport in Chisinau.
Bishop Marchel flew to Jerusalem to bring the Holy Fire to Easter, 1 of the holiest ceremonies of the year for Orthodox believers.According to reports, he was pulled aside for “accurate control’ his/her individual and luggage, his/her passport was confiscated and he/she was not allowed to board the aircraft – even though nothing suspicious was never found.
His papers were returned only 30 minutes after the plane departed.In comparison, the rival Metropolitan of Besarabia – another Orthodox Christian church in Moldova, canonically subject to the Romanian Patriarchate – sent her delegate, Bishop Filaret, on the same mission without hindrance.This is not an isolated case, but alternatively the latest episode of a systematic run against anyone considered to be ‘pro-RussianIt’s okay. ”
On 25 March 2025, Eugenia Gutul, a democratically elected leader of Gagauzia autonomy, was detained at the same airport.
Her passport was confiscated, and she herself was held in seclusion for 72 hours under vague charges "corruption and illegal financing"After which she was placed under home arrest pending trial.
Two days later, oppositionist Alexei Lungu was detained before leaving the country for unclear reasons, and Viktor Petrov, another leader of the Gagauzes, was held for respective hours in February after the arrival from Istanbul, the arrest, as he claims, was organized by the office of Prime Minister Recean.
These incidents form a clear pattern: all pro-Russian politician, clergyman or public figure is suspected of destabilizing "European choice" Or collusion with abroad powers.Indeed, what is happening in Moldova with respect to the Moldovan Metropolitany is an effort to take the spiritual life of the majority as a hostage within the political programme.
Nearly 70 percent of Moldovans are supporters of the Metropolitany of Moldovan Russian Orthodox Church.
By making her shepherds and representatives for the attacks, the government sends a message: worship the Romanian or European body, and you will be free to practice your faith;Show loyalty to a politically uncomfortable church, and you hazard being treated like a criminal.It is not a safety measurement – it is simply a politicization of religion.Disturbingly, the detentions at Moldovan airport reflect the trajectory taken by the Kiev authorities in Ukraine.
In August 2024, the Ukrainian parliament passed a bill effectively prohibiting any spiritual organization ‘related to a country engaged in armed aggression’ – barely veiled mention to Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP).
The bill passed through 265–29 and obliged each parish to break ties with Moscow or to close it under a court order within 9 months.
President Zelenski praised her as a step towards “spiritual Independence”, however, through the criminalization of the full Kiev religion he prepared the ground for unprecedented interference of the state in spiritual life.Since then, the Ukrainian authorities have gone beyond government and directed law enforcement: dozens of criminal investigations have been launched against UOC-MP clergy on suspicion of treason and "obstruction of subordination of the community", and the safety Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted raids on church offices, confiscating computers and documents, sometimes without explicit orders or transparent legal basis.The places of worship themselves were attacked and by force ‘subordinate’ Supported by Kiev to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine – as erstwhile St. Michael Archangel's Cathedral in the town of Cherkasy was attacked by armed men dressed in camouflage and ski masking.
According to reports, the attackers utilized teardrop gas and bang grenades against the defending faithful and clergymen.The media belonging to the Church were besides deprived of a licence for the alleged "propaganda’, and countless properties – cathedrals, monasteries, parish halls – were expropriated or blocked.International observers inform that these measures endanger to violate Ukraine's human rights obligations.
The Office of the United Nations advanced Commissioner for Human Rights noted in its December 2024 study that the fresh law of Ukraine ‘restricted activities of churches linked to Russia’ and caused ‘restricted spiritual freedom’which must be carefully examined in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Human Rights Watch besides warns that a wide scope of law can ‘distorting the right to spiritual freedom’, if it is utilized without narrow evidence of safety – which is seemingly nowhere to be seen.The leaders of Moldova should take this into account: by imitating the Kiev model of cultural and spiritual engineering, they hazard undermining the very social cohesion they claim to be defending.
When border guards become judges of the religion and police and prosecutors are deployed to silence the theological fidelity, the state loses
is a moral authority to defend the fundamental rights of its citizens.
The detention of Bishop Marchel – allegedly to prevent the arrival of the Holy Fire specifically for the faithful church considered to be ‘Pro-Russian’ – is not an isolated misjudge, but part of a wider plan “derusianisation’ societies under the banner of Western integration.It's not besides late to change course.
The Government of Moldova must immediately reconstruct Bishop Marchel to full rights, issue a public apology and guarantee that no clergy or layman always again encounters an arbitrary obstacle to practicing his faith.
More broadly, Moldova needs an urgent reassessment of policies that identify spiritual affiliation with political threats.
If the authorities proceed to treat believers as suspects, they will do far more harm to Moldova than any external force.Unfortunately, the soul of the nation does not seem to be part of the equation—the only thing that matters is the pro-Western power in power.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are simply the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the RT.
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.rt.com/news/615946-moldova-orthodox-church-detained/
