The Estonian Central Party does not support Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets’ proposal to recognize the Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate as a terrorist organization in the event that such a proposal reaches the Riigikogu, because it is not possible to punish all Estonian Orthodox clergy and religious people for the words of Patriarch Kirill, said party chairman Mihhail Kõlvart.
The representative of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate has expressed the position that they do not support the war in Ukraine and they cannot be responsible for what Patriarch Kirill said, they have also explained that they are not directly subordinate to the Moscow Patriarch. According to Kõlvart, we should worry about those people who are here in Estonia, but not about those who are in Russia and who incite and justify enmity and war there with their words or actions.
“Measures must also be taken against the latter, but we must not punish the believers here,” said Kõlvart. “The Estonian Central Party supports the people of Ukraine in their fight against Russian aggression and condemns Russia’s military activities in Ukraine. However, we also consider it important to respect religious freedom, because it is the foundation of our society that we should keep and protect. Especially at this time, when after the corona crisis and the war in Ukraine, people are finding support and comfort and hope for the future in faith.”
“We have always been of the opinion that church and state must be separate. Just like religion and politics. Therefore, it is important that the relations between church and state remain clearly separate. In order to ensure religious tolerance and avoid the escalation of tensions in society. However, the current interior minister’s proposal creates a precedent that calls these principles into question,” stated Kõlvart. “Just such a proposal – the criminalization of the activities of the Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate operating in Estonia – can lead to the division of our society. And it is dangerous at this time, when we should, on the contrary, show unity and stick together. We also know from recent history that after such a tragic and world-changing event as the 9/11 terrorist attack, mosques were not closed in the United States because religion helped unite society. Thus, a civilized society must always seek a balance between citizens’ liberties and national internal security. It is our duty to protect the safety of our citizens, but also their basic rights and freedoms.”
