Moldovan lawmaker and leader of the Party of Socialists Igor Dodon, who advocates the federalization of Moldova, has described the transfer of parishes of the Moldovan Orthodox Metropolis of the Moscow Patriarchate to the jurisdiction of the Bessarabian Metropolis as “church raiding.” The latter is part of the Romanian Orthodox Church, editor’s note.

The pro Russian politician commented on the confrontation in the village of Dereneu in the Calarasi District, NewsMaker.md reports.

How the lawful transfer of the church is being blocked

According to TVR Moldova, despite a ruling by the Supreme Court of Justice recognizing the right of use of the church for the religious community of the Dormition of the Mother of God, which belongs to the Bessarabian Metropolis, supporters of the Moldovan Metropolis led by the village mayor are physically preventing the transfer of the church.

Member of parliament and leader of the Party of Socialists Igor Dodon called the situation “church raiding” and demanded an end to what he described as “pressure on believers.”

According to the ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice, the community of the Bessarabian Metropolis is the lawful user of the church. Back in 2019, the community and the Ministry of Culture signed an agreement transferring the church for use by the Bessarabian Metropolis.

“The Moldovan Metropolis went to court claiming its right to use this church. However, on June 12, 2025, the Supreme Court of Justice issued a final ruling stating that the Moldovan Metropolis has no such right,” lawyer Constantin Turuta said in a comment to TVR.

Pressure under the guise of “protecting believers”

Despite the facts and the court rulings, socialist politician Igor Dodon has expressed outrage at the lawful actions of the parishioners.

“I am outraged by the events in Dereneu, where a priest of the Bessarabian Metropolis attempted to forcibly take control of a church belonging to the Moldovan Metropolis, but was met with firm resistance from local residents. What is happening is outright church raiding. I demand an immediate end to the pressure on believers, the protection of churches, and that those responsible be held to account,” Dodon said.

Legal context

The court dispute between the Moldovan Metropolis and the religious community of the Dormition of the Mother of God began in 2019. At that time, the Moldovan Metropolis filed a lawsuit against the Public Services Agency and the religious community, seeking recognition as the lawful owner of the church in Dereneu.

On June 12, 2025, the Supreme Court of Justice definitively rejected these claims, ruling that the right of use of the church belongs to the community that is part of the Bessarabian Metropolis.

The Bessarabian Metropolis is an autonomous church within the Romanian Orthodox Church, operating in Moldova since 1992 and officially registered in 2002. It is the main competitor of the Moldovan Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

In recent times, more than 60 parishes have left the Moldovan Metropolis under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate to join the Bessarabian Metropolis of the Romanian Orthodox Church. This reflects growing tensions and a desire for closer ties with the Romanian Mother Church against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.