Church and Pühtitsa convent challenge Estonia’s church law

The Estonian Christian Orthodox Church and Pühtitsa Monastery, a convent, have filed complaints with the European Court of Human Rights over amendments to Estonia’s Churches and Congregations Act, ERR reported.

The amendments give both institutions until December 28 to sever ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. If they do not, Interior Minister plans to ask a court to terminate their activities, said lawyer Artur Knjazev, who represents the church and convent.

Knjazev said the dispute was not simply about changing documents, but about religious affiliation. He argued that the state could regulate how faith is practised publicly but could not force people to change their beliefs.

The Supreme Court’s full panel upheld the law on June 8, interpreting it as banning administrative, rather than religious, ties. Six of the 17 judges, including the court’s president, dissented, saying the law was not sufficiently clear. Lawyer Steven-Hristo Evestus said the interpretation used to uphold the law does not appear in the legislation itself.

Evestus said the Interior Ministry had consistently sought to end both administrative and religious ties, despite the court’s interpretation. He added that no Estonian authority had found the church or convent had acted unlawfully, been charged or been subject to proceedings.

The church will continue talks with the ministry, Knjazev said. The ministry has not invited the convent to a separate meeting. He said about 90 nuns live at the convent, where nuns have prayed for more than 135 years.

The amendments took effect on June 27, 2026. They give religious organizations six months to bring their statutes, governing boards and activities into line with the new requirements. Rules for clergy took effect without a transition period.