Estonia approves bill requiring Estonian Church to sever ties with Russia

Kuremäe Monastery in Estonia. Photo: ERR

The Estonian government has approved a bill amending the Law on Churches and Congregations, which requires religious organizations to revise their statutes and completely sever ties with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). According to Estonia’s Minister of the Interior, Lauri Läänemets, the bill has been submitted to the Riigikogu (Parliament), ERR reports.

As stated in the explanatory note to the bill, the law prohibits guidance from any person or organization with significant influence and located in a foreign country if it poses a threat to the security, constitutional order, or public order of the Estonian state, supports military aggression, or incites war, terrorist acts, or any other unlawful use of armed force or violence.

Once the amendments take effect, religious organizations will have two months to bring their statutes, board composition, and activities in line with the updated legislation.

As previously reported by UOJ, the Estonian Orthodox Church responded to the authorities' demands by changing its name.

Additionally, believers of the Estonian Orthodox Church have submitted a petition opposing the anti-church law.

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