Estonian President Alar Karis has declined to promulgate a recently passed amendment to the Churches and Congregations Act, which aimed to formally sever the Estonian Orthodox Church’s ties with the Moscow Patriarchate.
In his decision, the President cited concerns over potential violations of core constitutional principles, including the principle of proportionality (Section 11), freedom of religion (Section 40), and freedom of association (Section 48).
According to Estonian law, the President has the authority to withhold promulgation of legislation if there are concerns about its compatibility with the constitution. The bill has now been returned to the Riigikogu’s Legal Affairs Committee for review. Lawmakers are expected to examine the President’s objections and consider possible amendments before the bill returns to the chamber for another vote, in either revised or original form.
“We will thoroughly examine the president’s position in collaboration with the government and parliamentary committees and determine the appropriate course of action,” said Minister of the Interior Igor Taro.
Despite the President’s decision, Minister Taro underscored the Ministry of the Interior’s unwavering position: no organization operating within Estonia’s borders should be directed or influenced by adversarial foreign powers.
“Both the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and our own Parliament have acknowledged the Moscow Patriarchate’s support for Russia’s military aggression,” he said.
“The Estonian Christian Orthodox Church – formerly known as the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate – and the Pühtitsa Convent remain organizationally subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate, which raises legitimate concerns about their vulnerability to external influence, particularly in light of the Patriarchate’s documented support for the Russian Federation’s military actions.”
Minister Taro emphasized that safeguarding national security and constitutional order remains a top priority for the government. “Religious freedom is a fundamental right in Estonia,” he said. “All individuals must be able to practice their faith without undue interference from hostile foreign actors.”
The legislative amendments were intended to update and clarify existing regulations, responding to the increasing diversity of Estonia’s religious landscape and the growing need to mitigate risks associated with religious radicalization or political instrumentalization.
The Estonian Parliament passed bill aimed at severing ties between Estonian Orthodox Church and Moscow Patriarchate
It is recalled that the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) has passed a landmark bill aimed at severing ties between the Estonian Orthodox Church and the Moscow Patriarchate, citing national security concerns amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The bill, supported by the Estonian government, received 60 votes in favor and 13 against. Officially titled as a law for the “prevention of the instrumentalization of religious organizations to incite hatred or violence,” the legislation reflects growing concern over foreign influence within Estonian religious institutions.
According to the explanatory note accompanying the bill, while Estonia continues to uphold religious freedom, it also has a duty to safeguard the state and society from security threats. The law prohibits foreign individuals or legal entities from exerting significant control over Estonian religious organizations if they are found to pose risks to national security, constitutional order, or public peace, or if they support military aggression or promote war.
Moscow Patriarchate responds to Estonia’s decision on Estonian Orthodox Church
The reaction of the Russian Orthodox Church was swift following the Estonian Parliament’s recent approval of legislation aimed at severing the Estonian Orthodox Church’s ties with the Moscow Patriarchate.
In an official statement, the Moscow Patriarchate denounced the law, declaring that it “subjects to discrimination 250 thousand believers who are Estonian citizens, depriving them of the freedom of religion.”
The Church also firmly rejected the premise of the legislation, calling “false” the claim that the “bond between Orthodox Christians in Estonia and the Moscow Patriarchate poses a threat to the security of the Estonian state, the constitutional and public order in the country.”
