Metropolitan Klyment comments on Tikhon's mission in Crimea

Metropolitan Klyment stated in a comment to the "Voice of Crimea" news agency that "there is distrust within the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) towards all priests from the former three dioceses of the Moscow Patriarchate in Crimea, which were effectively incorporated into the ROC in June of the previous year. Therefore, Tikhon's primary objective is to replace the undesirable, such as the "pro-Ukrainian" priests, who are still considered as such by Russians, with Russian mainland priests. This is aimed at strengthening Russia's position in Crimea through the Russian Orthodox Church, making it the last stronghold for the defense of the "Russian world."

Secondly, this appointment signifies an attempt to exercise complete control over the church's financial resources and to export national religious and cultural treasures to Russia. A list of such treasures was created by Russian authorities as far back as 2014.

Metropolitan Klyment also pointed out the Russian internal church competition element. Tikhon's appointment to Crimea effectively ends his chances of being elected as the Patriarch of the ROC in the future.

Moreover, this move places him under criminal charges according to both Ukrainian national legislation and international law. Tikhon is also now subject to sanctions. This suggests that he is being stripped of his position in the ROC as a future competitor for the patriarchal seat, and it might also indicate some rushed decisions as a sign of growing turmoil in Moscow.