An announcement was posted on Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev)’s official Telegram channel regarding his detention by Czech police in Karlovy Vary, where he resides as appointed by the Russian Orthodox Church. The statement reads:
“Currently, Metropolitan Hilarion cannot personally address the channel’s subscribers. Due to the events in Karlovy Vary, we provide information from the defense side.
On May 24, 2026, after departing the Orthodox Church “St. First Supreme Apostles Peter and Paul” in Karlovy Vary, the car with Metropolitan Hilarion and a cameraman was stopped. The police did not offer clear reasons for the stop related to traffic violations and proceeded to search the vehicle.
During the search, four small containers of a white substance were discovered in the trunk. The composition and nature of the substance require proper examination.
Metropolitan Hilarion firmly denies any illegal possession of prohibited substances, considering the incident a provocation.
‘I am not and have never been involved in illegal drug trafficking. As a clergyman, the suggestion is completely untrue. I urge a full, independent, and impeccable investigation,’ stated Metropolitan Hilarion.
His lawyer, Michal Paczowski, highlighted concerns over the circumstances of the car stop and search. According to him, the car was approached by two police vehicles. After identifying him, they left in opposite directions. The defense notes that the police asked for documents from both the driver and Metropolitan Hilarion without traffic-related allegations. ‘There should be a reason for stopping, typically reported. Here, no traffic violation claims were made. Likely, the intent was to search this specific car,’ the lawyer said.
Added concern arises from the defense’s claim that Metropolitan Hilarion was taken to a gas station store during the search, preventing him from observing the procedure. ‘There should have been witnesses or video. We currently know there was neither, indicating possible procedural violations,’ Michal Paczowski stated.
The defense points out that personal belongings were not searched, with immediate focus on the trunk. ‘The police went straight to the trunk, seemingly aware of what to find. Why weren’t personal items checked if the whole car was searched? This is critical to the defense,’ emphasized the lawyer.
The defense requests preservation and provision of all video recordings related to the car stop, escort, search, and further actions. An independent substance, packaging, and container examination are demanded, along with checks for fingerprints, DNA traces, and who accessed the car before the stop.
The incident follows persistent pressure on Metropolitan Hilarion and the Orthodox Municipality of Karlovy Vary. The Metropolitan claims anonymous threats of violence if he didn’t leave his service area were received. The threats appear politically motivated, linked to his Russian heritage, church affiliation, and service under the Moscow Patriarchate. The Metropolitan intends full legal cooperation and defends his name and reputation.
Lucie Šmoldásová, spokeswoman for the National Drug Control Center, confirmed actions against a car in the Central Bohemian Region following an anonymous drug transportation tip-off. Due to ongoing criminal proceedings, further details and identities of the car occupants remain undisclosed.
According to the Kladno prosecutor’s office, no charges have been filed. ‘Two detainees are being questioned today. The police authority will then decide,’ prosecutor Petr Dluhoš stated, as reported by Novinky.
The Russian Foreign Ministry perceives Metropolitan Hilarion’s detention in the Czech Republic as a provocation and ‘unacceptable arbitrariness.’ Moscow demands his release, stated by Maria Zakharova, the official department representative.
‘We demand the unconditional and immediate release of Metropolitan Hilarion and the end of the fabricated investigation,’ according to the ministry’s website. ‘The Czech diplomatic mission head in Moscow will soon be summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry for a strong protest.’
The Russian embassy will continue assisting Hilarion.
The Metropolitan was detained on May 24 in the Czech Republic on drug possession suspicion, alongside his companion. They are held separately, without external communication rights, his defense announced. Their interrogation regarding the narcotic substance, distributed in four envelopes, lasted six hours on the first day.
Late last year, an Armenian cleric was detained for illegal drug trafficking in Armenia, and a drug network disguised as an old-style church was broken up in Greece. In 2016, a major drug scandal involved discovering twelve cocaine suitcases at the Russian embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, involving two ‘Russian Orthodox patrons’ transporting drugs disguised as church items. Bishop Leonid, questioned in that case, denied ties but was recalled to Russia.
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