Hâncești priest caught distributing defamatory newspapers on “day of silence”
Election-related incident documented by police on the “day of silence”: a priest in Hâncești came under investigation after allegedly distributing clandestine newspapers with defamatory electoral messages to parishioners.
Police in Hîncești are investigating a priest who, during a religious service, allegedly distributed to parishioners, including children, copies of the newspaper “Salt and Light”, printed in a recently discovered clandestine printing house.
According to law enforcement, the publication contains defamatory messages against state institutions, incitement to religious hatred, and attempts to influence public opinion in the context of the elections. A total of 164 copies were seized from the church, and the case is still under investigation.
A Reuters investigation shows that Russia has allegedly used the Orthodox Church to steer public opinion in Moldova against the government’s pro-Western course. Following pilgrimages by priests to Russia, dozens of parish Telegram channels have recently circulated identical messages against the country’s European integration and calls for making the “right choice” in the September 28 parliamentary elections.
