In Estonia, it was proposed to recognize the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) as a terrorist organization.
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Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets announced his intention to propose to the Riigikogu (parliament) to recognize the Russian Orthodox Church as a terrorist organization, ETV reported.
If we draw a parallel, Islamic terrorists who say that they are waging a holy war against the Western world, the values of the Western world, then today the patriarch and patriarchate operating in Moscow are no different from Islamic terrorists,” he said. According to him, the Moscow Patriarchate is subordinate to Vladimir Putin, who, as he said, “is in charge of terrorist activities in the world,” Läänemets said.
The minister believes that the recognition of the Russian Orthodox Church as a terrorist organization will not affect parishioners and does not mean that churches will be closed, but at the same time “ties with Moscow will be severed.” The very subordination to Moscow, according to the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, poses a threat to Estonia’s national security.
A representative of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate previously stated that they are not directly subordinate to the Russian Orthodox Church and cannot be responsible for statements made in Moscow in support of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s synodal department for relations between the church and society and the media, Vladimir Legoyda, said that the proposal to recognize the Russian Orthodox Church as a terrorist organization returns Estonia “to the dark times of religious wars, St. Bartholomew’s Night and witch hunts.”
The Orthodox Church of Estonia has more than 100 thousand believers. In January 2024, the Estonian authorities refused to continue the residence permit of the head of the local metropolitanate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Evgeniy (Valery Reshetnikov). He was recognized as a threat to state security. The state decided to refuse to continue, since Reshetnikov, in his public activities, including public speeches, supports the actions of the aggressor and has not changed his line of behavior, despite previous warnings given to him.
Prior to this, Estonia banned Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ from entering the country.
Source: Racurs
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