The socialist mayor of Dereneu, Călărași, is alleged to be inciting locals to oppose the irrevocable decision of the Supreme Court of Justice, through which the local church has passed to the Metropolis of Bessarabia. Priest Florinel Marin, accompanied by the Police, is accused of abusively taking over the place of worship.
The subject is intensely publicized by pro-Russian propaganda channels. Among the voices claiming that the church would be abusively taken over are socialist Bogdan Țîrdea, Telegram channels and television stations associated with Ilan Șor, as well as the controversial blogger Gabriel Călin.
“There is a use agreement signed between the religious community, which is administered by Marin Florinel, and the Ministry of Culture. This contract dates from 2019 and, respectively, it is registered in the Real Estate Register, under the use and management section. This is the title of use that the religious community benefits from. In parallel, there was an action formulated from the Metropolis of Moldova in the court through which it claimed that it has the right of use over this church. The Supreme Court of Justice irrevocably decided on 12.06.2025 that the Metropolis of Moldova does not have such a right. Considering that we have the right, considering the finding that the Metropolis of Moldova does not have the right, the religious community, through its administrator, decided to exercise this right of use,” declared for TVR Moldova the lawyer Constantin Turuta.
The lawsuit between the Metropolis of Moldova and the Religious Community “Dormition of the Mother of God”, part of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, for the church in Dereneu, began in 2019. On June 12, 2025, the Metropolis of Moldova lost the litigation at the Supreme Court of Justice.