Estonian authorities evict Church from historic building after 200 years

Historic building in the center of Tallinn, where since 1829 the Synod of the Estonian Orthodox Church was located. Photo: Postimees

On August 29, 2025, a Tallinn court upheld the decision of the city authorities to terminate the lease agreement with the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church (EOCC), which had occupied premises on Pikk Street for nearly 200 years. This was reported by Postimees.

The EOCC attempted to challenge the actions of the mayor’s office, pointing out that the chancery of the Synod has been located in the building since 1829, but the Harju County Court sided with the authorities. As a result, the Church is obliged to vacate the premises it had rented on preferential terms under a 2005 contract, with the rent set at only half the market value.

The dispute over the building had dragged on for more than a year and was accompanied by political pressure on the Orthodox community. In 2024, Tallinn authorities demanded that the premises be vacated and subsequently sharply increased the rent. The EOCC refused to move out, claiming the right to historical continuity, and filed a complaint with the ECHR.

Estonian security services accused the Church of holding talks with Rossotrudnichestvo about financing a Russian-language school in Tallinn and attempting to arrange the transfer of funds from Russia. However, the matter concerned only “attempts” and “negotiations,” not the actual receipt or transfer of money.

The court’s decision coincided with the adoption of a new law “On Churches and Parishes,” aimed at banning the EOCC. The document passed its third reading in parliament, but the president vetoed it.

Earlier, the Estonian Orthodox Church and the Pühtitsa Convent filed complaints with the European Court of Human Rights, citing systematic violations of the rights of Orthodox believers in the country.

The UOJ previously reported that the Riigikogu refused to take into account the president’s objections to the law on Churches.

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