The Minister highlighted President Karis’s statement from 24 April, when he first declined to promulgate the law, noting that “the Moscow Patriarchate undermines the sovereignty and democracy of states.” “President Karis also provided guidance on how the law should be made to comply with the Constitution. Based on that, the Ministry of the Interior submitted new proposals to Parliament, and the Riigikogu passed the revised version of the law,” Taro explained.
The final version of the law no longer includes a direct ban on religious associations following a foreign individual or entity that poses a threat to Estonia’s security or public order. Instead, the wording was changed to state that churches, congregations, unions of congregations and monasteries may not, based on their statutes or other governing documents, or through financial ties, be connected to a foreign religious centre, leadership body, organisation or cleric who poses such a threat. The transition period for implementing changes was also extended from two to six months.
“President Karis’s second decision not to promulgate the law suggests he believes this law is unnecessary. As Minister of the Interior, I disagree. That means we must again look for constitutional ways to protect our religious communities from the influence of aggressive Russian state policy – of which the Moscow Patriarchate’s open support for war and war crimes is an inseparable part,” said Minister Taro.
Following the President’s new veto, the Ministry of the Interior will consult with the Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee, which can propose that the Riigikogu either adopt the law in its current form or amend it again in line with the President’s suggestions.
