Geoffrey Sachs calls on Baltic states to stop enmity with ROC

Jeffrey Sachs, an American economist, Columbia University professor, popular writer on international relations and special adviser to three UN secretaries general, called on the Baltic states to stop their hostility toward the Russian Orthodox Church. The economist believes that the development of Russophobic sentiments can lead to the fact that the Baltic states are really in danger. He said this during his speech in the European Parliament, Grani.lv reports.

“What do you want? You want to make sure that the Baltic States are safe. The best thing for the Baltic States is to stop Russophobia. This is the most important thing. Estonia has about 25 percent Russians or Russian-speaking citizens, ethnic Russians. In Latvia, the situation is the same… There is no need to shout: “We want to destroy Russia”. Are you kidding? No, don’t. This is not how you survive in this world. You survive with mutual respect. You survive through negotiations. Through discussions. There is no need to outlaw the Russian language. It’s not a good idea when 25 percent of the population speaks Russian as their native language. It’s not right. Even if you didn’t have this giant on your border, it would be wrong… You would have Russian in elementary school. You would not be at odds with the Russian Orthodox Church,” — Sachs said.

As reported, on February 19, 2025, the Estonian Parliament considered in the first reading amendments to the Law on Churches and Parishes, according to which the activities of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate are restricted. Despite the fact that the law was lobbied for at the level of the Ministry of the Interior, it met with resistance in the Riigikogu. The Center Party and EKRE voted to exclude the bill from parliamentary proceedings.