The image of Archbishop Petru of the Metropolis of Moldova, who knelt before the Police and read prayers, has gone viral on pro-Russian Telegram channels in the Republic of Moldova. The law enforcement officers were accused of not allowing access to the church.
The General Inspectorate of Police maintains that, in fact, a priest from the Metropolis of Moldova has barricaded himself inside. The cleric does not want to surrender the building to the fathers of the Metropolis of Bessarabia. He is said to be there with his wife and minor children.
The police further specify that the people who are protesting resorted to similar actions in 2018, after the property belonging to the Ministry of Culture was given to the Metropolis of Bessarabia. This was followed by years of disputes, until finally the Supreme Court of Justice pronounced the irrevocable decision that the building returns to the representatives of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Also involved in the scandal is the socialist mayor of Dereneu, who is said to be inciting the locals to oppose the transfer of the church.