institute of europe
the institute of europe of the russian academy of sciences
Analytical paper No 8, 2025 «Ukrainian Scenario in Estonia: the Church Perspective»
- 03 March 2025
IE RAS presents Analytical papers of IE RAS No 8, 2025 «Ukrainian Scenario in Estonia: the Church Perspective» (in Russian) by Roman Lunkin, Doctor of Sciences (Politics), Deputy Director, Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor of RAS.
The article analyzes specific features of Estonia's religious policy in the context of Ukrainian crisis. It examines the attitude of Estonian authorities towards the Estonian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate in connection with adoption of the republic's parliament statement that the Russian Orthodox Church is a threat to national security and the government-approved bill aimed to eliminate the Orthodox Church of the Russian tradition. It is noted that the bill is largely similar to the Ukrainian law banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. It is concluded that Estonia's policy toward the Moscow Patriarchate Church has an extra-legal logic and there is a potential for legal appeal to the possible consequences of the law's application if it is adopted.
