JPTi Welcomes Decision by Estonian President Karis on Religious Freedom

sharofazizov
May 2
1 min read

Updated: May 3

📅 02 May 2025 | 📍 Geneva, Switzerland

JPTi applauds the principled decision of the President of Estonia, H.E. Alar Karis, who on 24 April 2025 declined to promulgate controversial amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act (KiKoS). The proposed legislation, ostensibly designed to counter foreign influence, posed serious risks to freedom of religion and minority rights, particularly targeting the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (EOCMP).

Our legal analysis—shared with Estonian authorities and featured in national media—highlighted the incompatibility of the amendments with international human rights standards. President Karis’s refusal is a strong affirmation of constitutional justice and democratic governance.

JPTi continues to call for the reinstatement of Metropolitan Evgeniy’s residence permit, unjustly revoked on alleged national security grounds. The use of state security legislation as a tool to silence religious communities and dismantle legitimate religious structures constitutes a grave abuse of power and is incompatible with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), particularly Article 18 on freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

We also urge the Chancellor of Justice of Estonia to uphold the obligations inherent in her “A” status under the Paris Principles by proactively addressing the concerns detailed in JPTi’s third-party submission—specifically the misuse of national security frameworks to restrict fundamental rights. A status must reflect not only formal institutional independence, but also meaningful engagement with international legal standards in practice.

📌 Read our full statement here: