The potential future prime minister of the Czech Republic, Andrej Babiš, may support imposing sanctions against the head of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) in the country.
This was reported by Deník N, according to Ukrinform.
The publication reports that the head of the ROC in the Czech Republic may be added to the national sanctions list, a decision reportedly supported by Babiš.
Metropolitan Hilarion, who was previously the second most important figure in the Russian Orthodox Church and seen as a potential successor to Patriarch Kirill, was relocated to Hungary following the invasion of Ukraine. He now represents Orthodoxy in the Czech Republic and serves in Karlovy Vary. His predecessor, Mykola Lishcheniuk, was expelled from the Czech Republic after counterintelligence services indicated that he had established a significant structure posing a threat to the country's security.
Deník N has confirmed that Hilarion has evident ties to Russian intelligence, specifically to the FSB counterintelligence agency.
Additionally, Babiš's ANO party, which won the October elections, is expected to sign a coalition agreement with two other parties in the coming hours.
During Babiš's first term as Prime Minister, 18 Russian diplomats were expelled, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of personnel at Russian diplomatic missions in the Czech Republic.