At UN, Moldovan hierarch criticizes President Sandu for pressuring Church

Archbishop Markell of the Orthodox Church of Moldova. Photo: gagauz info

On November 27, 2025, Archbishop Markell spoke at the 18th session of the UN Forum on Minority Issues in Geneva, where he raised concerns about increasing pressure from the Moldovan government on the Orthodox Church of Moldova.

In his address, the hierarch said that Moldovan President Maia Sandu had included the Orthodox Church of Moldova on the list of “national security threats,” which he described as an unprecedented case in the country’s history. He characterized this as hate-based rhetoric and direct pressure on the faithful.

According to the Archbishop, state institutions have for years attempted to revise agreements governing the use of churches and monasteries – an effort which, he warned, could lead to the seizure of Church property. He also mentioned intensified border checks targeting clergy and cited his own three instances of being barred from leaving the country, including being prevented from traveling to Jerusalem to receive the Holy Fire.

Human-rights organizations participating in the forum supported the Archbishop’s statement, noting that they continue to submit reports to UN bodies on violations of believers’ rights in Moldova. They said a series of submissions is being prepared for the UN’s special procedures, as well as reports for Moldova’s review at the 144th session of the UN Human Rights Committee in 2026.

Representatives of these groups emphasized that restrictions on clergy and interference in Church life violate European standards on freedom of religion – standards that Moldova committed to uphold on its path toward the EU.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Moldova, parishioners are being prosecuted for defending their church from being transferred to the Romanian Patriarchate.

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