The Estonian Orthodox Church and the Pühtitsa Monastery have filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights

The Estonian Orthodox Church (EOC) and the Pühtitsa Monastery have filed complaints with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), challenging recent amendments to the law on churches and parishes. According to the ERR news portal, the controversial provisions require religious organizations to sever administrative ties with the Moscow Patriarchate by December 28.

Lawyers representing the EOC and the monastery emphasize that the state’s demand effectively forces believers to renounce their canonical affiliation, which, in their view, constitutes a gross interference with freedom of religion. The lawyers note that, despite the Riigikogu Court’s clarification that only “administrative” ties—not “religious” ones—are permissible, the Ministry of the Interior’s actions are aimed at completely severing both types of contact. The defense argues that no state authority has identified any unlawful actions on the part of the church or monastery, making the pressure exerted on them unjustified.

For its part, the Estonian Ministry of the Interior insists on strict enforcement of the law. Ringo Ringvee, an advisor to the Department of Religious Affairs, stated that Estonia is a state governed by the rule of law where religious freedom is guaranteed, but the activities of organizations must not threaten the country’s security. The ministry emphasized that the dialogue with the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church is ongoing and called the appeal to the European Court of Human Rights premature, as the ministry is still in the process of consulting with religious communities.

It should be noted that the bill underwent a lengthy review process: following several vetoes by the Estonian president, the final decision on the law’s constitutionality was issued by the Supreme Court in June 2026.