A Reuters investigation has uncovered how Russia has sought to use Orthodox priests in Moldova as vehicles for propaganda ahead of the country’s crucial elections.
Under the guise of religious pilgrimages, priests were offered money, benefits, and instructions to spread pro-Russian messaging among parishioners.
Pilgrimage Tours with a Hidden Agenda
According to the report, groups of Moldovan Orthodox priests were invited on week-long pilgrimage tours to Moscow, visiting prominent Russian Orthodox temples. Since June 2025, such trips have been organized almost weekly, with around 50 priests per group.
During the trips, the priests were given 10,000 rubles (about $120) for discretionary spending, alongside lectures that emphasized “century-old ties” between Moldova and Russia and denounced “the morally rotten West.”
Before leaving Moscow, participants were issued Promsvyazbank payment cards, with the promise that funds would be credited upon their return home.
Financial Incentives to Spread Propaganda
Upon returning to Moldova, priests began receiving transfers of $800 to $1,200—significant amounts by local standards. In exchange, they were reportedly asked to create Telegram channels aimed at warning parishioners about the “dangers of European integration.”
Priest Mihai Bica told Reuters that although he received $1,200, he chose not to implement the plan and eventually switched to another Orthodox branch. Another priest, speaking anonymously, confirmed receiving payments but denied that they came with conditions.
Other clergy members interviewed said they had heard similar accounts from colleagues, reinforcing the claim that the financial incentives were tied to coordinated propaganda efforts.
Telegram Channels as a Propaganda Platform
Nearly 90 Telegram channels representing Moldovan parishes have emerged over the past year. Reuters analysis found that these outlets post identical anti-Western narratives daily, with content intensifying ahead of Moldova’s elections.
Common themes include:
- Claims that European integration threatens traditional values.
- Warnings that EU membership would “force acceptance of LGBT lifestyles.”
- Narratives that link EU alignment with the destruction of religious freedom.
Some of these channels have already gained thousands of subscribers, amplifying Moscow’s influence at the grassroots level.
Russia’s Role and Official Denials
Reuters journalists traced several individuals in Russia who coordinated with Moldovan priests, identifying them through YouTube videos and firsthand accounts.
The Russian Orthodox Church confirmed that it funds such pilgrimage programs but denied any political agenda, claiming the goal is simply to “support poor priests and strengthen fraternal ties.”
Archbishop Marcel, a senior Moldovan church leader, dismissed accusations of Russian interference as baseless, insisting that the Telegram channels were the priests’ personal initiatives and that the bank cards were provided for convenience during purchases in Russia.
Hybrid Warfare Through Faith
The Russian influence on Moldovan priests adds a new dimension to Moscow’s hybrid warfare strategy. By targeting clergy—trusted voices within communities—the Kremlin seeks to undermine Moldova’s pro-European path and mobilize support for pro-Russian forces.
With elections approaching, Moldova faced the challenge of safeguarding both its democratic institutions and its social fabric from external manipulation cloaked in religion.
