Estonian government launched a "sociological scheme" to support the separation of the EPCC from the Russian Orthodox Church

Estonia is increasingly resorting to the «Ukrainian experience» in the fight against Orthodoxy. This time Estonian mass media published the data of a state-commissioned opinion poll, according to which the number of supporters of the separation of the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church (EOCOC) from the Moscow Patriarchate has allegedly increased in the country. The results of the survey show that 58% of the country’s residents believe that such a move is justified against the backdrop of the political discussion around the amendments to the Law on Churches and Parishes, which is designed to ban the activities of the EOCOC.

According to Postimees, citing a survey conducted by Turu-uuringute AS on behalf of the State Chancellery, the share of those supporting the separation has increased from 55% in June to 58% at present. At the same time, 41% of respondents fully agree with this demand of the authorities (39% in March). The number of those who disagree decreased from 31% to 29%. The poll also revealed a significant gap in opinions on the national basis: 77% of Estonians support the idea and only 22% of residents of other nationalities, among whom 62% oppose it.

Public sentiment is developing against the backdrop of a tense political situation. on September 19, the Parliament for the third time adopted amendments to the law «On Churches and Parishes», which had been rejected twice before by President Alar Karis. Now, according to the Constitution, the head of state must either sign the law or send it to the Constitutional Court to check its compliance with the country’s basic law.

Experts note that the Church has already taken administrative and legal steps toward separation by changing its charter and name, but «the canonical link has not yet been severed.» It is also noted that along with this study was recorded a general decline in the confidence of Estonian residents in the government, the Riigikogu and the electronic voting system.

Recall, earlier we reported that against the backdrop of the protracted confrontation around the amendments to the Law on Churches and Parishes, the Estonian Christian Orthodox Church (ECOC) issued an official statement calling for dialog instead of confrontation. The Riigikogu has once again passed a controversial bill that President Alar Karis has already returned twice for revision due to inconsistency with the Constitution. The Church expresses deep concern that the legislative process, which directly affects its activities, is taking place without its participation.