The head of the public association “Pro Ortodoxia”, priest Gennady Valuța said he will not apologize to the LGBT community and will not pay damages even if he was obliged to do this by court. In a news conference at IPN on August 24, the priest said he would better do community service or serve time in jail if all the courts rule in favor of the LGBT community, but will not go against the Christian laws.

Gennady Valuța reminded that in 2014 he was invited to take part in a talk show on a private TV channel, which also involved representatives of the LGBT community. As it was the period of the winter holidays, he was asked by the representatives of the LGBT community not to use it during the program. After the talk show, he went through the offices of the TV channel and splashed holy water there. Shortly afterward he received a decision from the Council for the Prevention and Elimination of Discrimination and Ensuring of Equality of Moldova whereby he is accused of discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief.

As the prescription period by which he was to execute the Council’s decision expired, he was sued and the ordinary court passed its judgment. “The Moldovan court decided in their favor based on dishonest accusations. Social teachings say that if the laws of the state run counter to the church laws, the Christian should not obey these laws,” stated the priest. He noted he will not offer his apologies to the sin and the propagators of the sin as this would mean going against the Holy Scripture. Even if he is obliged to, he would better do community service or go to jail.

The court obliged Gennady Valuţa to publicly apologize to the LGTB community, to pay 5,000 lei damages and 7,000 lei court costs. The representatives of the LGBT community reportedly asked for 60,000 lei in respect of non-pecuniary damage.