Pskov, May 4, 2020
Poto: rbk.ru
E-mail hackers recently attempted to blackmail His Eminence Metropolitan Tikhon (Shevkunov) of Pskov to the tune of $132,800 (10 million rubles) to stop publishing his personal and business correspondences.
However, His Eminence is unwilling to give in to their “dirty business” demands.
A few months ago, it was discovered that Met. Tikhon has been the victim of hacking for several years, and his personal business correspondences have recently begun to appear on the website Black Mirror and circulated from there.
“I was asked to pay $132,800 (10 million rubles) to stop the publications,” His Eminence said. “Of course, I refused,” he said, explaining that he did not want to “accept the terms of the blackmailers and encourage their dirty business.” The Black Mirror website specializes in this kind “commerce,” the Metropolitan said.
He also noted that he himself didn’t pay much attention to what happened, and only began commenting on it after a flood of media inquiries came in.
The relevant authorities are currently seeking for the hackers, His Eminence noted, adding that he personally is not out for blood.
Meanwhile, publications from his hacked emails continue to this day. In particular, an audio file of a recent phone conversation with a member of the Patriarchal Culture Council, which Met. Tikhon chairs, was published.
