Estonian Minister of Interior Affairs Lauri Läänemets has proposed to the government a bill to ban the activities of churches or parishes in Estonia associated with organizations that support Russia's aggression.
According to Ukrinform, this was reported by the Estonian broadcaster ERR.
Speaking to the deputies of the Riigikogu (Estonian parliament), the Minister explained that there is a need for changes because the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (EOC MP) has not taken any significant steps to fulfill the relevant requirements of the state.
“I propose that the government amend the law on churches and congregations to exclude relations of any church, congregation, association of congregations, monastery or other religious association operating in Estonia with any foreign organization that, for example, poses a threat to public or constitutional order in Estonia, supports military aggression or incites war, calls for terrorism or any other form of violent behavior,” Läänemets said.
He noted that “the Moscow Patriarchate is another weapon in Russia's arsenal of influence, which oppresses its own people and tries to poison the souls of those in other countries by abusing their faith." "Therefore, Estonia cannot accept the fact that the Estonian Orthodox Church belongs to the Moscow Patriarchate," the minister emphasized.
As reported previously, at the end of September, the Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs, analyzing the text of the updated statute of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (EOC MP), stated that it does not fully meet the expectations of the state, as it merely reduces Moscow's influence on this Church. Estonia demands that the EOC completely abolish the influence of the ROC.