Estonia's Interior Ministry: Churches and Congregations Act Must Be Followed
Estonia's Interior Ministry says freedom of religion is guaranteed but the amended Churches and Congregations Act must be observed. It describes the current stage as dialogue with the Estonian Orthodox Church and says no court action is planned.
Ringo Ringvee, religious affairs adviser at Estonia's Interior Ministry, said the state does not interfere in how people practise their faith. The ministry is guided by amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act that took effect in the summer. Under them, a religious organisation in Estonia may not maintain ties with a religious organisation or leader abroad whose activities pose a threat to the Estonian state.
Ringvee was commenting on the decision by lawyers for the Estonian Orthodox Church (EOC) and the Pühtitsa Convent to file a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights.
Dialogue with the church
According to Ringvee, the ministry has begun advising religious associations that consider themselves affected by the changes. Last week it met EOC representatives, and both sides agreed to start reviewing the ties set out in the church's statutes. He therefore found it surprising that a press release from the EOC and convent lawyers claims the interior minister firmly intends to go to court to forcibly liquidate structures linked to the Moscow Patriarchate. The ministry believes the current stage is one of dialogue, though the law must be observed.
He also noted that everyone has the right to turn to the courts. About 600 religious associations operate in Estonia, and only the EOC, which is administratively tied to the Moscow Patriarchate, has challenged the law, which the Supreme Court found consistent with the Constitution.
The ministry cannot assess arguments published in the media because it has not seen the complaint's text. No court has involved the ministry in proceedings over the complaint, so no action is planned.
Path of the law
The Riigikogu adopted the act on 9 April 2025, but the president declined to proclaim it on 24 April. After it was adopted again in amended form on 18 June, the president again refused on 3 July and asked parliament to reconsider it and bring it in line with the Constitution.
On 17 September the Riigikogu passed the amending act a third time without changes, and on 3 October the president asked the Supreme Court to declare it unconstitutional. Because the court's constitutional review chamber had fundamental disagreements, it referred the case in February to the full court. On 8 June the justices found the law constitutional, though six of 17 judges, including the chief justice, dissented, saying it fails the requirement of legal clarity.
