The Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs issued an ultimatum to the Estonian Orthodox Christian Churchtranslated

July 9, 2026 · 1 min read

The Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs issued an ultimatum to the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church rusk.ru

Source: GN church: Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) · Read the full story →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (9) 🌐 Show original

Людмила БондаренкоAnd what about the freedom of religion that everyone likes to talk about so much? The church is not politics, but people just go to the service. It's all strange.

Emily ClarkFreedom of religion sounds good on paper, but here the Estonian government is literally giving the local Orthodox Church an ultimatum. Людмила is right — people just want to go to liturgy, not play politics. Wonder what exact demand the interior ministry actually put on the table.

Daniel BrownThe Estonian government keeps saying it's about "security," but forcing the church to cut ties with Moscow or else sounds like they’re picking the winner in a spiritual tug-of-war. People really do just want to pray in peace, like Людмила said. Has anyone seen the exact wording of the ultimatum yet?

Katherine JohnsonThe ultimatum basically gives the church until February to either sever all administrative links with Moscow or face being deregistered as a legal entity here. I get the security angle Estonia keeps pushing, but it does feel like it's forcing a choice on people's faith rather than letting them just attend liturgy in peace. Have you come across any official Estonian government statement with the exact text?

Ნ

ნათია კვარაცხელიაUnfortunately, giving a deadline until February and severing ties with Moscow or canceling registration is not really like just being allowed to go to liturgy. Ludmila's words remind me that you really want people to be calm in the church, not in politics. What specific demands are written in that ultimatum, has anyone read it?

Თ

თამარ დოლიძეUnfortunately, the deadline until February and the disconnection from Moscow or the cancellation of registration — it's not really like just being allowed to go to liturgy. Ludmila's words remind me that you really want people to be calm in the church, not in politics. What specific requirements are written in that ultimatum?

Dragan MiloševićLet's see that ultimatum on paper. By February, cut ties with Moscow or delete your registration - it's not freedom of religion that everyone mentions, but pressure to make people decide. People like Ludmila and Emily have the right, most just want to go to liturgy without politics.

Тамара СмирноваAn ultimatum until February with the demand to sever ties with Moscow or lose registration - this is direct pressure on the parishes. Lyudmila said it right, people just go to work, and don’t play politics. We can’t even imagine this in Tula, thank God.

Ნ

ნინო კაპანაძეTamar, this is the main thing - in the ultimatum it is directly written that they should break the canonical connection with Moscow by February, otherwise they will cancel the registration. I completely agree with Ludmila's words, people want to pray quietly, not such political pressure. What do you think, is this actually possible in this timeframe?