Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys stated that authorities should limit the activities of Russian special services within the country's Orthodox Church.
This was reported by Censor.NET, citing LRT.
Budrys made this statement following the publication of a national threat assessment by Lithuanian security services, which indicated that the Orthodox Archdiocese of Vilnius remains dependent on the Moscow Patriarchate, despite its public claims of wanting greater autonomy.
"We must prevent the activities of Russian special services within this organization. If it were a company looking to invest in a strategic sector, we would evaluate whether it aligns with our national security interests. Given its ties to Russian services and their direct influence, such an entity would not be allowed to own assets near our strategic facilities," stated the Lithuanian minister.
Budrys believes that authorities should "carefully remove" individuals attempting to exert influence within the organization.
Meanwhile, the president's national security adviser, Deividas Matulionis, cautioned against categorically labeling the entire Orthodox Church in Lithuania as a threat to national security.
He emphasized that the focus of special services should be on specific individuals who may be involved in recruitment or other forms of sabotage or destabilization, rather than targeting the entire religious community. "If we are addressing issues of sabotage or destabilization, our special services must focus on individuals who may be involved in such activities, not on the Orthodox Church as a whole," he stressed.