The Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova has expressed concern over the statement made by Vasile Șoimaru, a deputy from the ruling party "Action and Solidarity" (PAS), regarding a possible ban on the Moldovan Metropolitanate. Church representatives have called on the authorities to end the "moral torture" of the church, IPN reports.

"On behalf of the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, we express our deep concern over the recent statements by Deputy Vasile Șoimaru about a possible ban on the activities of the Moldovan Metropolitanate. Such a ban would violate the right of believers to religious freedom," the statement published on the Metropolitanate’s website reads.

Earlier, the Deschide.md portal, citing its own sources, reported that dozens of priests from the Moldovan Metropolitanate allegedly made pilgrimages to Moscow, and upon their return received cards from "Promsvyazbank," with alleged promises of salaries and assistance for the church.

Commenting on the priests' trips to Moscow, PAS Deputy Vasile Șoimaru stated that the activities of the Moldovan Metropolitanate, which is part of the Russian Orthodox Church, could be banned in Moldova.

The ruling party PAS has stated that this is the personal opinion of the deputy. President Maia Sandu has rejected Șoimaru’s statement, saying that there is no danger to either the Moldovan Metropolitanate or the Bessarabian Metropolitanate.