Estonia’s interior minister set to classify Moscow Patriarchate church as terror organisation

Estonia’s interior minister set to classify Moscow Patriarchate church as terror organisation
Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Laanemets / wiki commons
By bne IntelliNews April 14, 2024

Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Laanemets said he is set to propose to the country’s parliament Riigikogu that they declare the Moscow-based Orthodox Patriarchate a terrorist organisation, ERR.ee, the website of national Estonian broadcaster ERR, reported on April 12.

The Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (MPEOK) is subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate but will not be designated in the same way under the plan.

He said that the ultimate aim is to ban the Moscow Patriarchate's activities in Estonia.

As reported by bne IntelliNews, speaking at a press conference earlier this week, a representative of the MPEOK said the organisation does not directly report to the Moscow Patriarchate, or to Patriarch Kirill, and so cannot be held accountable for his statements of support regarding Russia's war in Ukraine, however. The MPEOK has over 100,000 followers in Estonia, ERR.ee said.

Related Content

News

Dismiss