Doc. 9242

8 October 2001

Situation of the Orthodox Church believers in Estonia

Written Question No.399 to the Committee of Ministers

by Mr Rogozin

      Mr Rogozin,

      Taking into consideration that the new law on churches and parishes, recently adopted by the Estonian Parliament, contains provisions that are in contradiction with the standards of freedom of religion set out in international documents and in the resolutions adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and runs counter to the interests of the consolidation of society and the honouring of minorities’ rights, and that the Estonian authorities refuse to register the Charter of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchy with which the overwhelming majority (more than one hundred thousand) of Orthodox believers affiliate themselves,

      To ask the Committee of Ministers,

      What measures it intends to undertake to invite the Republic of Estonia:

–       to amend the law on churches and parishes in order to make it non-discriminatory towards the various churches and to take practical steps to ensure respect for the religious rights of all national groups living in Estonia;

–       to solve the issue of registration of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchy in the spirit of respect of the rights of believers.

Signed:

Rogozin, Russia, EDG¹

¹ European Democratic Group