The head of the Russian Orthodox Church has suspended a priest for three years for overseeing a memorial service for late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Dmitry Safronov conducted a memorial service at Navalny’s grave in Moscow on March 26, following Russian Orthodox tradition.
An order published on the Moscow diocese website on Tuesday publicly demoted Safronov to a psalm-reader, revoked his right to give blessings or wear a cassock for three years, and transferred him to another church in the capital.
No reason was given for the decision, which was signed by Patriarch Kirill, a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Navalny passed away suddenly on Feb. 16 while serving a sentence in a remote penal colony. His death, considered politically motivated, remains unexplained.
Russian authorities initially withheld Navalny’s body, citing the need for further investigations. His funeral directors faced threats when trying to find a hearse for his body.
Safronov was one of the clergymen who had called for Navalny’s remains to be returned to his family.
Under Putin’s rule, the Russian Orthodox Church has gained prestige, wealth, and power, with leaders like Patriarch Kirill supporting his initiatives. The church has backed the war in Ukraine, blessing troops and equipment heading into battle.
The Associated Press
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