In several European countries, concerns are growing regarding Russia’s influence through Orthodox churches in Europe. Attention must be paid to the role that Russian Orthodox churches play in these countries. These churches can be used as tools to promote Russian propaganda and to cooperate with Russian intelligence services.
Recently, the Czech Republic publicly expressed its concerns about the influence of the Russian Federation through Orthodox churches. The Czech Senate initiated an investigation to examine possible ties between Orthodox churches in the country and Russian intelligence services.
Senator Pavel Fischer, known for his tough stance on Russia, called for a thorough investigation into the activities of these churches, noting that Orthodox churches in the Czech Republic could be used as tools for influence operations, the spread of Russian propaganda, and support for Kremlin policies.
“It is impossible to continue acting as if nothing has happened. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to this issue. Freedom of religion and association should not be used for illegal influence by a hostile foreign state,” Fischer stated.
Estonia has also faced the issue of the Moscow Patriarchate’s influence. The Estonian Orthodox Church adopted a new version of its statute, which no longer mentions the Moscow Patriarchate. This is one of the steps in combating Russian influence in Estonia, as the Moscow Patriarchate is used by the Kremlin to advance its policies in the country.
In May of this year, the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) adopted a statement condemning the activities of the Moscow Patriarchate for justifying and supporting the war against Ukraine, declaring the Moscow Patriarchate as an institution that supports the military aggression of the Russian Federation.
“The calls of the Moscow Patriarchate pose a threat to the security and existence of Estonia, including a direct threat to public and constitutional order in Estonia,” the statement noted.
The Parliament also called on all states and the international community to prevent the hostile activities of the Moscow Patriarchate from exerting its influence.
Sweden has also responded to the potential threat posed by Russian Orthodox churches. In March of this year, the Swedish government decided to stop funding local parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church due to suspicions of cooperation with Russian intelligence services.
Sweden’s Minister of Culture and Democracy, Jeanette Mehrabi, stated: “We cannot allow Russian intelligence services to use religious organizations to carry out their plans in our country. This poses a threat to Sweden’s national security.”
Investigations into the ties between churches and Russian intelligence services highlight the seriousness of the situation and the need for decisive action. However, to effectively counter this influence, coordination of efforts at the international level is necessary, as well as informing the public about the potential risks associated with religious organizations that are used by the Kremlin for intelligence purposes and as a platform for spreading propaganda and disinformation.
