Estonia - October 2025

On 3 October, President Alar Karis referred amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act, concerning foreign organizational ties of religious groups, to the Supreme Court for constitutional review. The amendments would restrict administrative, financial, and doctrinal links with foreign actors deemed to be security risks, a measure widely seen as targeting the Estonian Orthodox Church under the Moscow Patriarchate. First introduced on 9 April 2025, the bill was passed by the Riigikogu three times, with Karis refusing promulgation on two occasions on the grounds that it conflicted with constitutional protections for freedom of religion and association. Karis specifically objected to the restriction on doctrinal ties as potentially interfering with the content of religious belief and teaching. After parliament adopted the bill unchanged in September, Karis sent the amendments to the Supreme Court, which must issue a decision within four months.

Sources: ERR (1), ERR (2) Riigi Teataja (1), Riigi Teataja (2) Riigikogu (1), Riigikogu (2), Riigikogu (3)