Estonian сourt dismisses complaints filed by EOC MP against Riigikogu

Tallinn. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Photo: Siim Lõvi / ERR

On March 12, 2025, the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (EOC MP) and the Pühtitsa Convent failed in their legal bid to overturn the Riigikogu's statement from May 2024, which declared the Moscow Patriarchate an organization supporting military aggression in Ukraine. This was reported on the official website of the EOC MP.

The legal dispute was concluded when the Supreme Court of Estonia refused to accept cassation appeals from the legal representatives of the EOC MP and the Pühtitsa Convent.

In their court complaints, the EOC MP and the Pühtitsa Dormition Stavropegic Convent argued that the Riigikogu had unjustifiably and unlawfully labeled the Moscow Patriarchate as an organization supporting military aggression in Ukraine, without exempting either the EOC MP or the convent from this classification.

The EOC MP and the Pühtitsa Convent also stated that they do not support military aggression.

The Tallinn Administrative Court ruled that the Riigikogu's statement was not an act of executive authority but a political expression of the parliament's will, which is not subject to judicial review under administrative law.

The court further explained that allowing an administrative court to assess the content of political statements made by the parliament and potentially obliging the legislature to alter or withdraw such statements would contradict the principles of separation and balance of powers, as well as parliamentary democracy, as outlined in the Estonian Constitution.

As a result, the court determined that it lacked the jurisdiction to review such complaints. Both religious organizations pursued their case in higher courts but were unsuccessful.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Estonia had approved a bill requiring the EOC to sever ties with Russia.

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