International media reports that the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, at a meeting led by Patriarch Kirill, decided to dismiss Metropolitan Pavel, who, until now led the Metropolitan of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, which is part of the Russian Orthodox Church, reports KosovaPress.
The dismissal of Metropolitan Pavel came after his statement, where he called on President Alexander Lukashenko, to stop the violence against the Belarusian protesters. Metropolitan Pavel called on Belarusian priests to stay away from politics and not make political statements. Official Moscow did not like the statement of Metropolitan Pavel, and through Patriarch Kirill, who is one of the biggest supporters of Vladimir Putin, dismissed Metropolitan Pavel.