Estonia intends to declare the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate a terrorist organization
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets (SDE) is to propose the Riigikogu declare the Moscow-based Orthodox Patriarchate a terrorist organization, the minister said Thursday.
The Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (MPEÕK) is subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate, but will not be designated in the same way under the plan.
Speaking to ETV politics show "Esimene stuudio," Läänemets said that the ultimate aim is to ban the Moscow Patriarchate's activities in Estonia.
Speaking at a press conference earlier this week, a representative of the MPEÕK said the organization 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.
Läänemets told "Esimene stuudio" that, based on his ministry's knowledge plus a recent assessment from the Internal Security Service (ISS), as minister of the interior, he has no choice but to act to sever the ties between the MPEÕK and the Moscow Patriarch.
