Journalist: Attacker on Met Longin might have thought that he was dead

Alexandra Pacuraru, a TV presenter of one of the biggest Romanian TV channels Realitatea Plus, said that she managed to talk to the monks of the Bancheny Monastery, who gave new details about the beating of Metropolitan Longinus on the night of 22 January 2024. She said this in a TV broadcast published on the Bancheny Monastery's Instagram page.

According to her, the attacker might have thought he killed Metropolitan Longin after striking him in the face area.

"When he was found by the monks, everyone was horrified and afraid to notify the law enforcement agencies so as not to make things worse. He was in hospital in a critical condition for three weeks and on the feast day of the St Xenia Convent, which the bishop built, he left the hospital," she said.

The journalist also called for a halt to the voicing of the version that the hierarch could have fallen after taking pills, "slipping on the stairs".

"You can see the bruises; you can see he was beaten. He did not fall, he did not slip down the stairs, and he is not an elderly man who loses his balance. Those who, among others, represent the interests of Romanians in Ukraine, do not say that Bishop Longin is a man who can die of old age. He is full of strength. It is a pity that he has no defence," she added.

As reported, the Romanian president was urged to react to the beating of Metropolitan Longin, who had been assaulted.