Czechia reportedly wants to sanction Russian Orthodox Church leader, with likely PM in favour

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Czechia, Metropolitan Hilarion, may be added to the national sanctions list, with the likely future prime minister, Andrej Babiš, saying he would back the move.

Source: Deník N, as cited by European Pravda

Details: Metropolitan Hilarion, who is currently serving in Karlovy Vary, has recently been under media scrutiny for his alleged links with the Russian secret services.

In light of this, Petr Fiala's outgoing government is considering imposing sanctions on the clergyman, sources told Deník N.

Asked whether Hilarion might be sanctioned, Fiala replied: "All Czech state authorities closely monitor hostile actions by foreign agents and always act in accordance with Czech law. Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church are no exception, but I will not and cannot comment on specific cases."

Czech Minister for European Affairs Martin Dvořák said that a person like Hilarion should be sanctioned.

Interior Minister Vít Rakušan did not rule out that Hilarion's name would be added to the list.

"I do not wish to speak publicly about anyone's inclusion on the sanctions list. This is only announced after government approval so that all measures arising from the inclusion can be implemented beforehand," he said.

Andrej Babiš, leader of the ANO party and likely future prime minister, agreed that the Russian clergyman should be added to the sanctions list. In a written response to Deník N, Babiš said: "We agree. But ask the current government – they're still in power."

The Czech authorities considered adding Metropolitan Hilarion to the sanctions list last year but eventually abandoned the idea.

Hilarion now holds a Hungarian passport, meaning he is officially an EU citizen and cannot be banned from EU territory.

Metropolitan Hilarion was transferred to Czechia from Budapest at the end of last year. One of the first steps the Russian Orthodox Church took under his leadership was to transfer its assets to a Hungarian diocese – apparently out of concern that the Czech authorities might freeze its assets.

The Russian Orthodox Church in Czechia is directly subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate and is connected to the Russian regime. This also applies to Metropolitan Hilarion.

Background: On 30 September, the Czech government barred Russian diplomats and holders of service passports without national accreditation from Prague from entering the country.

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