Metropolitan Hilarion and his driver have been released without charges and without any restrictive measures following their temporary detention by Czech authorities.
Following his release, Metropolitan Hilarion spoke to a Telegram channel about the conditions in which he was held after his detention, describing the first hours in custody as particularly difficult.
“It was very cold in the first detention facility. I constantly had to move in order not to freeze […] I could only sleep in short intervals,” Metropolitan Hilarion said.
He also issued a public statement following his release from custody in the Czech Republic, where he had been temporarily detained in connection with an ongoing investigation involving alleged prohibited substances discovered in a vehicle in which he was traveling.
In his statement, Metropolitan Hilarion expressed gratitude to God, to Patriarch Kirill, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, staff of the Russian Embassy in the Czech Republic, his lawyer, and all those who supported him through prayer.
According to Metropolitan Hilarion, the vehicle in which he was traveling together with a cameraman and two passengers was stopped by two police vehicles, after which officers proceeded to inspect the trunk of the car.
The Metropolitan stated that he did not witness the moment when the alleged items were discovered. According to his account, he was called to the vehicle only after three small packets and one container with white powder had already been laid out in the trunk.
“I said that it was the first time in my life I had ever seen drugs. I have never in my life used drugs, transported drugs, stored them, or even held them in my hands,” Metropolitan Hilarion said.
His legal defense reportedly raised serious concerns regarding the circumstances of the search, including the absence of video recording, the lack of independent witnesses, and the allegation that a police officer handled the items without gloves.
Metropolitan Hilarion and the cameraman were later released without charges, without bail, and without any restrictive measures.
The investigation remains ongoing. According to the Metropolitan, authorities must still determine the exact nature of the substances found and whose fingerprints may be present on the packaging.
“There will be neither my fingerprints nor those of our cameraman. We have absolutely nothing to do with these packets or this container,” he stated.
Metropolitan Hilarion further claimed that his lawyer had learned the incident began following an anonymous letter containing details about the departure time from the church, the route of travel, and the alleged location of the substances inside the vehicle.
The Metropolitan expressed hope that the investigation would identify whoever may have planted the items in the car.
