14 October 2026. A press conference will be held in Vilnius to present an international analytical study entitled “The Use of Religion as an Instrument of Influence on Lithuanian and European Security in the Context of Russian Military Aggression”. The event will also mark the official launch of the International Centre for Religious Freedom Studies, Libertas Fidei.
Key Topics of the Press Conference
- The Instrumentalisation of Religion as a Tool of Hybrid Warfare. The use of religious institutions by authoritarian regimes to exert political influence, spread propaganda and disinformation, and undermine democratic societies.
- The Role of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Military Aggression Against Ukraine. The involvement of Russian Orthodox Church structures in providing ideological justification and religious legitimisation for the war, supplying material and technical support to the Russian armed forces, and directly supporting military aggression.
- The International Network of the Russian Orthodox Church in the European Union. More than 1,000 church, cultural and other organisations affiliated with the Russian Orthodox Church, their funding mechanisms, and their use to extend Russian political and ideological influence.
- The Political Influence and Security Threats Posed by Russian Orthodox Church Activities in Europe. The use of Russian Orthodox Church structures to disseminate Kremlin narratives, interfere in political processes, cultivate pro-Russian networks and conduct intelligence activities, all of which constitute elements of hybrid threats to the national security of European states.
- The Moscow Patriarchate as a Threat to Lithuania’s National Security. Findings by Lithuania’s State Security Department (VSD) concerning Moscow’s continued control over the Vilnius and Lithuania Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church and the use of ecclesiastical structures to promote the ideology of the “Russian World”.
- Presentation of the International Centre Libertas Fidei. The official announcement of the launch of the International Centre for Religious Freedom Studies, Libertas Fidei, including an introduction to its mission, principal areas of activity and plans for international cooperation in protecting religious freedom and countering the instrumentalisation of religion.
Press Conference Speakers
- Ingrida Šimonytė — politician and economist, Member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Prime Minister of Lithuania from 2020 to 2024, former Minister of Finance of Lithuania, member of the Committee on National Security and Defence, and Deputy Chair of the Committee on European Affairs.
- Vytautas Bruveris — journalist, Chair of the Board of the Libertas Fidei Centre for Religious Freedom Studies, and Head of the Authoritarianism Research Centre and the Arch Frontline think tank.
- Dr Sergijus Šumylo (Sergijus Šumylo) — Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Theology (ThDr), Executive Director of the Libertas Fidei Centre for Religious Freedom Studies, Senior Research Fellow at Vilnius University, Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, and Director of the International Institute of Athonite Heritage.
Event Information
- Date: 14 October 2026
- Time: 10:00 a.m.
- Venue: ELTA Lithuanian News Agency, Gynėjų St. 16, Vilnius
- Event Language: Lithuanian
About the Organiser:
The International Centre for Religious Freedom Studies, Libertas Fidei (Vilnius, Lithuania) — an independent international platform bringing together academics, scholars of religion, human rights defenders, journalists and analysts from Lithuania, Ukraine, Germany and other countries. The Centre’s mission is to monitor and expose threats arising at the intersection of religion, politics and security, safeguard freedom of conscience against its instrumentalisation by totalitarian regimes, and counter hybrid influence operations.
- Official Website: https://libertasfidei.org/
- Email: contact@libertasfidei.org
Media Contact:
Vytautas Bruveris
+37061419926
vytautas.bruveris@archfrontline..com