Hilarion was ‘bridge’ between Russia and Hungary, claims former aide

George Suzuki claimed the prelate ‘played a major role in ensuring that Patriarch Kirill was not placed under sanctions’ by western governments.

A former sub-deacon of Metropolitan Hilarion alleged that the Russian Orthodox prelate acted as an intermediary between Moscow and Hungary’s political elite.

George Suzuki told The Insider, a Russia-focused investigative outlet based in Latvia, that during his time as Metropolitan of Budapest and Hungary from 2022 Hilarion had close relations with figures in Viktor Orbán’s administration “effectively [serving] as a bridge between the Russian and Hungarian authorities”.

“From time to time, Hilarion would tell me and his other aides what he discussed with Hungarian officials. For instance, there were talks about how Hungary could assist Russian businessmen and oligarchs by granting them residence permits in exchange for certain investments – or by lobbying to lift sanctions,” said Suzuki, who worked in his household.

The sums discussed were in the millions of euros, Suzuki said. He claimed he witnessed multiple meetings between Hilarion and Orbán as well as more frequent encounters with Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén, with whom the metropolitan developed a close personal friendship.

Hilarion, the clerical name of the 59-year-old Grigory Alfeyev, was chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Department for External Church Relations, one of the most senior posts in the Moscow Patriarchate, from 2009 until shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

In June 2022 he was sent to Hungary amid speculation that his muted support for the war had lost him favour, but according to Suzuki he then “played a major role in ensuring that Patriarch Kirill [of Moscow] was not placed under sanctions” by western governments.

Suzuki, who was born in Japan and met Hilarion there shortly before the Covid pandemic, joined him in Budapest to serve as a sub-deacon. He told The Insider that his initial belief he was “a deeply religious man” was quickly shattered and “turned out to be an illusion”.

“After living under the same roof with him for a year and a half, I can say that he uses faith as a way to make money. For him, the Church is a business,” he said. 

Suzuki fled Hilarion’s household in January 2024 using the cover of a doctor’s appointment. He returned to Japan, where he filed a case of sexual harassment, claiming that the abuse started after he moved to live in Hilarion’s residence. Pictures and recordings supported his claims about the metropolitan’s lifestyle, though Hilarion denied them. 

The Moscow Patriarchate suspended Hilarion from his duties in July last year and in January assigned him to parish work.

Postcard from Budapest

Hilarion relegated to parish work by Moscow for ‘unsuitable’ lifestyle

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