The Russian Foreign Ministry has dismissed accusations from Chișinău that Moscow and the Russian Orthodox Church are attempting to sway Moldova’s upcoming parliamentary elections. At a briefing in Moscow on September 12, ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called the statements from Moldovan officials “groundless” and insisted that there is no proof that Russia is using church structures to shape the vote. She further urged international organizations to examine what she described as discriminatory restrictions imposed on Archbishop Markel, a senior cleric of the Moscow Patriarchate in Moldova, who was recently barred from leaving the country to attend a religious ceremony in Israel. Zakharova criticized the Moldovan accusations as an attempt to discredit the Russian Orthodox Church.
Clergy involvement and political campaigning
Moldovan authorities and independent analysts argue that the Russian Orthodox Church has become a tool of political influence, especially during election periods. Priests linked to the Moscow Patriarchate have reportedly echoed pro-Russian narratives in sermons, criticized the country’s European path, and offered implicit backing to pro-Russian political groups. Some parties, such as the radical “Patriotic Electoral Bloc,” have campaigned around church sites despite a legal ban on religious institutions engaging in electioneering. Moldova’s Central Election Commission has issued formal warnings to church bodies, while the European Union has voiced concern over disinformation campaigns tied to religious structures.
Funding networks and oligarchic ties
Authorities in Chișinău have also pointed to financial flows supporting these activities. According to officials, money is channeled into Moldova through church-linked networks connected to Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeev and exiled Moldovan businessman Ilan Șor. These funds are alleged to finance pro-Russian parties, anti-government demonstrations, and campaigns opposing Moldova’s integration with the West. Such financial channels, combined with the church’s influence, are seen as part of a wider strategy to return Moldova to Russia’s sphere of influence.
Struggle over Moldova’s European orientation
The Moscow Patriarchate plays a significant role through its Chișinău Metropolis, which remains under Russian ecclesiastical authority. Decisions such as appointing bishops in Transnistria are taken in Moscow without consultation with local clergy, underscoring the lack of autonomy. The Moldovan Orthodox leadership has accused the Russian church of attempting to pull the country into the “Russkiy Mir” — the ideological project of Russian-led cultural and political space. Metropolitan Vladimir has openly stated that such moves clash with Moldova’s Latin cultural heritage and undermine its European aspirations.