Czech police confirm cocaine found in Metropolitan Hilarion car
Czech police have confirmed that a white powder discovered in the vehicle of Metropolitan Hilarion during his detention on May 24 was cocaine. Forensic examinations verified the substance following the initial seizure of four containers.
"We can confirm, based on the results of the expert analysis, that the powder confiscated from the metropolitan's car turned out to be cocaine," stated Martina Richterová, spokesperson for the Central Bohemian Police. Richterová told the Czech publication Deník N that officers discovered and confiscated several grams of the drug.
The detention occurred on Sunday, May 24, in the spa city of Karlovy Vary. Metropolitan Hilarion himself later confirmed the details on his personal Telegram channel, acknowledging that law enforcement authorities found four containers holding a white substance inside his trunk.
Defense claims provocation
Legal representatives for Metropolitan Hilarion categorically deny any connection to the illegal possession of controlled substances. The defense maintains that the entire operation constitutes a deliberate provocation against the cleric.
The Czech authorities released the prelate two days after his arrest without filing formal charges. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities review the forensic findings.
Metropolitan Hilarion, born Grigori Alfeev, managed the Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church for many years. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the church reassigned him to Hungary to head the Budapest and Hungarian diocese.
Prior misconduct allegations
His tenure in Budapest was brief. Following allegations of sexual harassment made by an assistant, the church transferred the metropolitan to serve in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.
In 2024, his 18-year-old assistant, Georgiy Suzuki, formally accused Metropolitan Hilarion of sexual harassment. According to novayagazeta.eu, Suzuki accompanied Hilarion to a luxury villa on the French shore of Lake Geneva in November, where the metropolitan allegedly undressed him without consent and lay on top of him.
Following the initial incident, Suzuki stated that Hilarion regularly attempted to share his bed. While these actions did not result in sexual intercourse, Hilarion reportedly became increasingly explicit, demanding that Suzuki remain undressed.
In hidden audio recordings captured by the assistant, Hilarion prohibited him from wearing pajamas, stating he wanted to "feel him with his skin" and to "lie in bed" with him "like a father." Suzuki subsequently fled to Japan, taking luxury watches and €30,000 (approx. 588,000 MDL) in cash belonging to the cleric.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
