Orthodox church in Västerås was financed by Russian nuclear power company

11/28/2023, 3:46:55 PM

Highlights: Orthodox church in Västerås was financed by Russian nuclear power company. The Moscow Patriarchate announced the funding on its website. There are risks with churches with such close links to the Russian state, says Patrik Oksanen. It can be about both influencing and information gathering, he says. The local Russian Orthodox congregation has denied that they received money from Moscow. But in connection with the inauguration of the church in early November, it was revealed that the state-owned nuclear company Rosatom had borne most of the costs.

The state-owned Russian nuclear power company Rosatom has financed the construction of the Russian Orthodox Church in Västerås, which may pose a security risk. "Västerås has a high level of expertise and industry in the energy industry, with companies such as Westinghouse and ABB, and it doesn't feel like a coincidence that this is 600 metres from Västerås Airport," says Patrik Oskanen, security policy debater and advisor.

The local Russian Orthodox congregation in Västerås has denied that they received money from Moscow. But in connection with the inauguration of the church in early November, it was revealed that the Russian state-owned nuclear power company Rosatom had borne most of the costs, something that the VLT was the first to report on. The Moscow Patriarchate announced the funding on its website.

"They deny until they confess, that's the pattern," says Patrik Oskanen, security policy debater and adviser affiliated with the think tank Stockholm Free World Forum and former SVT employee.

"It's nothing surprising, that's how it works. This is almost like making a long nose, if I may put it that way.

Metropolitan Anton, who is the head of foreign affairs in the Russian pro-Putin church, attended the inauguration of the church in Västerås, and he thanked Rosatom's fund, which has been the main financier of the 35 million construction.

"This is a coordinated activity from the highest level in Moscow," says Patrik Oksanen.

There are risks with churches with such close links to the Russian state, says Patrik Oksanen. It can be about both influencing and information gathering.