Czech Senate Calls for Probe into Orthodox Churches' Kremlin Ties

The Czech Senate Committee on Security has urged the government to investigate potential misuse of Orthodox churches in the country for Russian influence operations. The committee has recommended deregistration of these churches if any legal violations are uncovered. The Russian Orthodox Church in the Czech Republic, an extension of the Moscow Patriarchate, is closely tied to the Russian state and led by Patriarch Kirill, who has faced sanctions from the Czech government due to his support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Recent actions by Czech authorities, including the expulsion of Russian Orthodox cleric Nikolai Lishchenko for allegedly establishing influence structures to promote Russian interests in the EU, have heightened concerns. The committee has called for intelligence services to investigate these activities, emphasizing that freedom of religion should not be exploited for foreign influence. Committee chairman Pavel Fischer highlighted the national security risks posed by such operations. Czech Culture Minister Martin Baxa has been urged to scrutinize the activities of both the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in the Czech Lands. While the Culture Ministry previously found no grounds to revoke the churches' registrations, recent developments have prompted renewed scrutiny. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky has expressed strong disapproval of the Russian Orthodox Church, suggesting it should not be recognized as a legitimate religious institution. In response, the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands has vehemently opposed the committee's stance, claiming it undermines their church's integrity. The church plans to address the issue with the Ecumenical Council, reflecting broader European efforts to mitigate Russian influence, as seen in Ukraine's recent legislation banning the Russian Orthodox Church.