Although the leadership of the Vilnius Diocese (Moscow Patriarchate – LF) in Lithuania states that it opposes the war and denies acting as an instrument of Kremlin influence, such statements do not eliminate the need for an independent assessment of its actual institutional ties to the Russian Orthodox Church.

This is according to Arunas Degutis, a signatory of Lithuania’s Act of Independence, in an article published by LRT.

According to Degutis, a religious organisation cannot serve as a cover for foreign influence operations.

“Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Lithuanian Constitution. Membership of an Orthodox community, attendance at religious services and the preservation of religious traditions do not, in themselves, constitute evidence of support for Russian aggression or grounds for legal liability.

However, a religious organisation cannot serve as a cover for espionage, illegal foreign influence operations, incitement to violence or other unlawful activities. Participating in such activities, organising them or knowingly facilitating them may result in liability under the laws of the Republic of Lithuania,” he emphasises.

The author notes that although everyone has the right to choose their religious affiliation freely, knowingly participating in unlawful, hostile activities cannot be justified by religious faith or by a lack of awareness of their objectives.

“The fundamental question is not so much which church a person attends to pray, but whether they are able to distinguish their faith from political influence exercised under the guise of religion. Religious affiliation is a personal choice. Responsibility for specific actions is also personal,” Degutis emphasises.