Russian Orthodox Church Accused of War Propaganda Now Lobbying in Washington

A delegation of lobbyists and clergy with ties to the pro-war Russian Orthodox Church is meeting with US officials and the White House this week, raising concerns over alleged religious persecution by Ukraine, The Hill reported on November 18.

The group includes representatives from the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, the Orthodox Church in America, and the Serbian Orthodox Church, all with ties to Moscow.

This meeting comes amid heightened concerns that the Russian Orthodox Church has been used as an ideological arm of Russia’s war against Ukraine, providing spiritual backing for the invasion. Russia’s Patriarch Kirill, a close ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, has actively supported the war, calling it a “holy war,” The Hill stated.

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US lawmakers, including House Republicans, are calling for investigations into potential Russian influence operations involving US-based Orthodox churches.

This campaign has found support among certain political factions in the US, including the MAGA base, which has taken up the narrative of Ukrainian oppression of the Russian Orthodox Church, according to The Hill.

Previously, it was reported that Russia financed pilgrimages for Moldovan Orthodox priests and provided them with debit cards later loaded with cash in exchange for campaigning against closer ties with the European Union, according to a Reuters investigation. Moldovan officials say the effort represents the use of religion itself as a political weapon.

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