Russian Orthodox cleric denies link to white substance found in car by Czech police
Metropolitan Hilarion, a former senior cleric of the Russian Orthodox Church, denied any connection to a white substance found in his car by Czech police. He accused the police of procedural violations during the search and called for an independent investigation. Hilarion described the incident as a provocation amid ongoing pressure on him and the Orthodox community he serves.
- ▪Czech police found small containers of a white substance in Hilarion's car during a search.
- ▪Hilarion accused the police of not following correct procedure and called for an independent investigation.
- ▪He categorically denied involvement in illegal possession of prohibited substances.
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Russian Orthodox cleric denies link to white substance found in car by Czech policeSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxFILE PHOTO: Metropolitan Hilarion, Chairman of external relations department of the Moscow Patriarchate and permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, speaks during a news conference in Minsk, Belarus October 15, 2018. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko/File PhotoPublished May 25, 2026, 10:18 PMUpdated May 25, 2026, 10:18 PMLONDON, May 25 - A former senior cleric in the Russian Orthodox Church said on Monday that Czech police had found small containers of a white substance in his car during a search a day earlier, and denied any connection to those items.Metropolitan Hilarion, whose secular name is Grigory Alfeyev and who headed the…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.