Minister says Orthodox Church must cut ties with Moscow after high court ruling

Estonia's interior minister has officially called for the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church to end its formal affiliation with the Moscow Patriarchate. This directive follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that validated legislative amendments concerning the governance of religious organizations. By upholding these legal changes, the court has provided the government with the necessary authority to enforce a separation between local religious institutions and foreign religious centers. Officials argue that this move is essential to ensure national security and independence from external influence. The church is now expected to restructure its operations to comply with the court's interpretation of the law.

The decision marks a significant legal and political shift in Estonia's effort to distance its domestic institutions from Russian influence amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.