Estonia: New law may ban Moscow-led Estonian Orthodox Church

Estonia’s Ministry of Interior expects the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (MPEÕK) to leave the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church before summer 2025, ERR reports. Earlier, the ministry submitted a draft legislative amendment to the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, which would ban religious associations directed by countries that threaten Estonia’s public order, national security, or constitutional order. The ministry hopes that the parliament will approve the amendment during the current spring session. Earlier, the Riigikogu concluded that the Moscow Patriarchate supports Russia’s war against Ukraine and questions Estonia’s sovereignty. Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets noted that MPEÕK was Russia’s biggest lever of influence in Estonia, ERR reported.