Czech Police Release Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev
Czech police have released Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev of the Russian Orthodox Church without any charges. He was taken into custody over the weekend on allegations of drug possession.
The Metropolitan, who used to hold a high-ranking position within the church, was detained by police on May 24 during a vehicle search near Unosz in Central Bohemia. Authorities reportedly discovered a “white substance” in the car.
Hilarion has denied any connection to that substance. He also called for an independent review of the incident, claiming that the Czech police did not adhere to proper procedures during their inspections. Reports indicate that the police began their investigation after receiving an anonymous tip.
In a statement shared on his Telegram channel, Metropolitan Hilarion noted that both he and his driver were released “without further restrictions” such as bail or travel bans. However, there were claims made that forensic analysis had confirmed the items found were indeed “controlled substances,” and Czech authorities intend to carry on with their investigation.
The statement also raised points about key issues that remain unaddressed, such as how the substances ended up in the vehicle in the first place. Questions were posed regarding the anonymous tip, the handling of the vehicle before it was stopped, and the procedures applied during the search and seizure.
In response to Hilarion’s arrest, Russian officials condemned the action, labeling it a “trapped job,” and demanded his immediate release. The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Czech Chargé d’Affaires Jan Ondrejka to express strong objections regarding the detention. They stated that the accusations against the Orthodox leader were unfounded and described the police operation as a premeditated provocation.
On Monday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized the Russian government’s view that the arrest was an orchestrated effort to tarnish Hilarion’s reputation, as well as that of Orthodox Christianity in the Czech Republic. She described the incident as a deliberate attack aimed at discrediting both the Metropolitan and the faith itself, urging for the cleric’s release and the case’s dismissal.
