Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei about situation at Dereneu church: Law enforcement bodies to clarify entire situation

The tensions in Dereneu village, Călărași district, arising from the dispute over the right to use the church „Adormirea Maicii Domnului” were discussed today in Parliament. “Law enforcement bodies will clarify the entire situation and determine the facts of the case,” said Liliana Nicolaescu-Onofrei, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Culture, Education, Research, Youth, Sports and the Media, at the beginning of the plenary sitting, after opposition MPs requested that the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Intelligence and Security Service and the Ministry of Culture be heard regarding this case.

Onofrei urged MPs to support the community of believers in Dereneu and not to try to interfere in the work of law enforcement bodies.

“With regard to the conflict at the church in Dereneu, the law enforcement authorities will determine precisely the facts of the case. Those who initiated this approach know very well the legislation of the Republic of Moldova, and we must closely monitor the activity of the law enforcement bodies. They will establish whether there have been any violations or whether the situation constitutes a criminal offense. It is important to have patience. Our colleagues from the PSRM know the context very well, and we must support the community and not try to interfere in the activity of law enforcement bodies. The reports of the Dereneu community meetings, voted by over 500 people, show that when the community decides, those decisions must be respected, including regarding places of worship. I signed the contract granting the community the right to use that church. We also need to examine cases in which children are kept inside the church and to prevent the situation from turning into a conflict. Our role is to act as mediators and to support the community, not to fuel tensions. Law enforcement bodies will check who is responsible and where the irregularities come from, thus establishing the truth. It is unclear why people from outside the village would intervene in the life of the church and what connection they have with agricultural markets. However, I am certain that the law enforcement bodies will clarify the entire situation,” Onofrei said.

The tensions in Dereneu, Călărași district, arising from the dispute over the right to use the church were commented on yesterday by Minister of Culture Cristian Jardan.

The minister stressed that this is about “two communities of Orthodox Christians from the same village, a small village, which, regardless of political involvement, will have to continue living in the same place.” The official reiterated that all enforceable decisions must be observed by both sides, and where there are ongoing court cases, the final ruling of the court must be awaited.

“I call for calm, peace and compliance with the law exactly as it stands. I do not believe that children should be involved in such a dispute. We must avoid, as much as possible, the involvement of children,” he stated.

Asked what concrete measures his institution will take to prevent conflicts between religious communities, the minister said that any external intervention risks aggravating the situation.

“Every trip made by someone from outside only serves to exacerbate this situation. There are courts, there is a law that must be respected,” he noted, adding that violence and quarrels are not a solution.

The dispute over the right of use of the church has been ongoing for several years. On November 5, 2019, the Ministry of Culture and the Metropolis of Bessarabia concluded a contract for free use for a period of 50 years, with the documents subsequently registered in the Real Estate Register.

At the same time, the action initiated in 2019 by the Metropolis of Moldova for the recognition of the right of use was irrevocably rejected by the Chișinău Court of Appeal on June 28, 2023, and the solution was upheld by the Supreme Court of Justice by a ruling of June 12, 2025.

According to the decision of the supreme court of June 21, 2024, the right of free use and possession of the building is legally established on the basis of the 2019 contract, and any contrary claims were dismissed as unfounded.

On February 1, 2026, several inhabitants who contest the transfer of the parish to the Metropolis of Bessarabia tried to force their way into the church, but the police blocked their access on the basis of the irrevocable decision of the supreme court. The police state that the mission is to ensure public order and the safety of citizens and urge the population to avoid actions that may generate further provocations or tensions.