Vasile Bănescu reacts ironically to Vladimir Putin's greeting for the 'Romanian Orthodox people', criticizing the use of Orthodoxy in pro-Russian political speeches.

Former spokesperson of the Romanian Patriarchate and current member of the National Audiovisual Council, Vasile Bănescu reacted harshly after Vladimir Putin sent greetings to the 'Romanian Orthodox people' through Diana Șoșoacă at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg. Bănescu criticized the use of religious discourse in the context of pro-Russian and anti-European political positions, suggesting that Putin's greeting is not innocent, but part of a strategy of influence.

He mocked Putin's image, sarcastically describing him as a 'great benefactor at Mount Athos', and emphasized that orthodoxy is used as a tool for moral legitimization. Additionally, Bănescu criticized the lack of reaction from the Romanian Orthodox Church regarding the association between orthodoxy and pro-Russian political speeches, suggesting that this functions as a tacit acceptance. In the end, he used a mystical quote to highlight the absurdity of the situation, interpreting it ironically as an 'Athonite response'. His reaction comes after Șoșoacă claimed that Romanians 'do not hate' Putin, provoking his laughter.