Archbishop Markel of Bălți and Fălești, representative of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, appeared before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday, June 17th, to denounce what he described as a “growing lack of religious freedom and systematic pressure” against his confession in the Republic of Moldova.
From the iconic Council chamber in the Palais des Nations, the prelate delivered a direct and detailed testimony regarding the situation faced by Orthodox believers in his country. He denounced the disproportionate use of police force against Christian demonstrators, the ideological imposition of values foreign to the nation’s moral tradition, and deliberate obstacles aimed at hindering religious activity and restricting spiritual travel. The archbishop also noted the preferential treatment that the government is applying to the so called Bessarabian church, a Moldovan branch of the Romanian Orthodox church. According to the prelate, “they get political backing and unlimited funding from the government.”
One of the most striking parts of his intervention was his assessment of the recent LGBT Pride parade held in Chisinău. According to Markel, the majority of Moldovan society does not support “the active and demonstrative promotion of LGBT values,” not out of animosity toward individuals, but in fidelity to the Christian worldview. “We acknowledge that all citizens have civil rights, but we too have the right to express our rejection of what our faith defines as sin,” he stated.
Institutional persecution and unequal treatment
Markel also accused the Moldovan authorities of implementing a campaign of harassment against his Church, detailing alleged violations of fundamental rights. He pointed to growing institutional discrimination and denounced unequal treatment in comparison to other denominations—particularly the Metropolis of Bessarabia” the Moldovan branch of the Romanian Orthodox Church—which, he claimed, receives political support and unrestricted foreign funding.
The archbishop also noted the preferencial treatment that the government is applying to the so called Bessarabian church, a Moldovan branch of the Romanian Orthodox church. According to whom, they get a political backing and unlimited funding from the government”.
One of the most revealing episodes, according to the archbishop, was his failed attempt to travel to Jerusalem this past April to receive the Holy Fire. “I was detained at the airport until the plane had already departed. The next day, after several arbitrary police checks, I was stopped again. This is the reality of freedom of movement for an Orthodox hierarch in Moldova,” he said.
In response to this situation, he announced the creation of a new international legal defense platform called Church Alliance Against Xenophobia and Discrimination, formed together with representatives from other Churches. Its aim: to protect, before international bodies, the right of Christians to publicly express their beliefs without facing persecution.
“We believe that Europe can still return to the path of virtue, even though many powers today seek to impose a lifestyle that our faith considers sinful. Nevertheless, international law continues to recognize religious freedom—and on that foundation we will build our defense,” he declared resolutely.
Markel appealed to the very essence of democracy: “We hope that Moldovan authorities will listen to and respect the will of the majority. That would be true democracy.”
