The investigative department of the Budapest police directorate has closed the criminal case against Georgy Suzuki, the former cell attendant of Metropolitan Hilarion, who had been accused of theft. Suzuki himself reported this on his Telegram channel.
Suzuki’s allegations
Georgy Suzuki, a former attendant to a Russian Orthodox Church bishop and to Hilarion, the former Metropolitan of Budapest and Hungary, left Hungary for his native Japan in early 2024 and later accused the cleric of harassment.
As Suzuki told Novaya-Europe, Hilarion stripped him down to his underwear and slept in the same bed with him, although, according to Suzuki, it did not lead to a sexual act. The outlet says it has video recordings showing Hilarion in underwear sitting on a bed next to a nearly naked Suzuki.
The metropolitan’s claims
The metropolitan himself accused his former attendant of slander and theft. According to Suzuki, Hilarion treated as theft the fact that Suzuki had taken expensive watches and several thousand euros as collateral. Those items and the money have now been returned to the cleric.
In addition, the metropolitan filed a lawsuit in Russia against Suzuki for the protection of honor, dignity, and business reputation. He demanded that a video showing a bed scene with his former attendant be declared fabricated.
Police and Russian Orthodox Church positions
Budapest police, according to Suzuki’s account, examined the evidence he provided and concluded that his actions were justified and that the video recordings confirm sexual harassment by Hilarion. The international arrest warrant against Suzuki was lifted. The authorities also noted that he would be able to file a claim for compensation.
In December 2024, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church removed Hilarion from the administration of the Budapest-Hungarian diocese, citing
“the incompatibility of the nature of his relations with his close circle and of his way of life with the image of a monk and clergyman”He was later assigned to serve at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Karlovy Vary, Czechia.
Hilarion’s real estate
Earlier, Novaya-Europe reported that Hilarion had obtained Hungarian citizenship and acquired a luxurious palace near Budapest. The outlet also said it was able to confirm that the metropolitan owns property on Lake Geneva in France.