Estonian President challenged in court the law on control over religious organizations

Estonian President Alar Karis has asked the State Court to declare unconstitutional a law tightening control over religious associations. According to the head of state, the amendments to the Law on Churches and Religious Communities adopted by parliament violate the fundamental freedoms of citizens and are redundant, as the authorities already have sufficient leverage.

According to TVNET.lv, on October 3, 2025, the president sent an appeal to the court, pointing out that the amendments contradict three articles of the Constitution: on freedom of religion, freedom of association and the principle of proportionality. «Legal instruments to control and restrict the activities of the Moscow Patriarchate that undermine sovereignty and democracy already exist. The problem is not the lack of tools, but their insufficient use,» Karis emphasized.

The head of state also expressed concern that too broad and vague wording of the law could lead to direct interference of the authorities in religious teachings and dogmas. He warned that attempts to ban not only administrative but also doctrinal ties with foreign centers could have the opposite effect, strengthening the authority of foreign religious leaders among believers.

The controversial law obliges religious organizations subordinate to foreign centers whose activities are recognized as a threat to Estonian sovereignty to change their statutes. In case of refusal, parishes will be given the right to withdraw from such an organization and register new documents without the consent of the superior leadership. According to observers, the document is actually directed against the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church (EOCC), which may face prosecution and a complete ban on its activities in the country.

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