Dodon announced the persecution of the church in Moldova after the search of Archbishop Markell

The former president of Moldova, the head of the Party of Socialists, Igor Dodon, called the searches of Archbishop Markell at the airport and the ban on his departure from the country on a pilgrimage mission persecution of the Orthodox Church.

"This is persecution by President Maia Sandu and the government of Dorin Rechan against the Moldovan Orthodox Church," the politician said on May 23 in his Telegram channel.

Dodon noted that Sandu is "following in the footsteps" of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky by starting the division of the Orthodox Church, which the Kiev authorities have already done.

"Let's see what happened in Ukraine: they were divided, banned, priests were dragged out of monasteries, beaten," said the former Moldovan leader.

According to him, the current government of Chisinau, oriented towards pro-Western values, puts the Romanian Orthodox Church in a privileged position. It, in turn, splits the Metropolia of Moldova, which is a self-governing part of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC).

"If we don't stop this, they will go on to ban the Archdiocese of Moldova. That's why it's not a game, it's not just like that. Therefore, our position is unequivocal: hands off the Archdiocese of Moldova," Dodon said.

"They are rebelling against God — the result will not have to wait long"

Archbishop Markell of Balti and Falesti — on the oppression of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, the analogy with the UOC and the transfer of clergy to the Bessarabian Metropolis

Archbishop Markell of the Orthodox Moldovan Church said earlier on May 23 that he was searched again at the airport in Moldova, forbidding him to leave the country for pilgrimage purposes. The clergyman had planned a two-day trip to the holy places in Turkey. He said that he was "subjected to a humiliating check," after which his passport and ticket were returned when the plane was already on the runway.

Earlier, on April 17, Archbishop Markell, who was on his way to Israel for the Holy Fire, told Izvestia that he had been detained at passport control at Chisinau airport. There, his documents were seized without explanation. According to the priest, all this was done purposefully so that he would not catch the flight. After that, the priest was not allowed to leave the city for the second time.

Gennady Askaldovich, Ambassador—at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said on April 19 that the refusal of Archbishop Markell of the Moldavian Metropolia of the Russian Orthodox Church to travel beyond the Holy Fire was a malicious attack against the canonical Orthodox Church. He also said that Moscow is calling on the international community to assess the actions of the Moldovan government.