During the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council, which is being held in Geneva from February 24 to April 4, 2025, Bishop Daniel of Tartu, a representative of the Estonian Orthodox Church, spoke about the preparation of a draft law on amendments to the Estonian Law on Churches and Parishes.
"Currently, the Estonian Parliament is considering a law that prohibits us from having any ties with a religious center in the Russian Federation. However, we cannot abandon the canonical connection, as it is part of our faith," said Bishop Daniel.
According to him, the law contains norms according to which, in fact, the Estonian Orthodox Church is responsible for the actions of religious leaders of another country, which contradicts the legal principle of individual responsibility. "We believe that the actions of the Estonian authorities are contrary to international law and can lead to serious consequences, the formation of hatred in society and human rights violations," the hierarch stressed.
Bishop Daniel also announced his intention to begin active human rights work at the international level in order to achieve an effective legal and diplomatic response to threats to religious freedom in connection with the preparation of this law, the website of the Estonian Orthodox Church reports.
The statements of the representative of the Estonian Orthodox Church were supported by the international human rights alliance "Church against Xenophobia and Discrimination", as well as human rights organizations with consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council — Public Advocacy and VSI Zmogaus teisiu apsauga.
The draft amendments to the Law on Churches and Parishes, in particular its provisions prohibiting religious organizations in Estonia from freely electing and establishing canonical and organizational ties with religious centers abroad, contradict international law, commented Oleg Denisov, head of the human rights organization Public Advocacy.
"These norms violate religious freedom, which includes the right of believers to choose a legal and organizational structure independently and without any interference, including ways and forms of relations with foreign religious centers. The state cannot set parameters and conditions for believers to practice their religious beliefs, nor can it prohibit or demand the abolition of historically established canonical ties," the human rights activist said, adding that Public Advocacy will support the Estonian Orthodox Church at the UN, OSCE, European Union human rights institutions and other authorized structures.