Ringvee: Churches to be checked in six months for alignment with bylaws

The Supreme Court's en banc chamber ruled that amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act do not violate freedom of religion or association. Ringo Ringvee, advisor to the Interior Ministry, stated that in the coming months the focus will be on monitoring whether the Orthodox Church brings its bylaws into compliance with the new law.

The Supreme Court's en banc chamber has made a ruling that ends a long dispute over amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act. The court found that the controversial legislative amendment does not violate freedom of religion or association, which was the main argument of its opponents.

Ringo Ringvee, advisor to the Interior Ministry's Department of Religious Affairs and Civil Society, explained in a video interview that a six-month monitoring period now begins. During this time, particular attention will be paid to whether religious organizations, especially the Orthodox Church, bring their bylaws into compliance with the new law.

"After six months, we will see whether religious organizations have brought their bylaws into compliance," said Ringvee. According to him, it is the state's interest to ensure that religious organizations operating in Estonia meet the requirements set out in the law, and if this has not been done, further steps will follow.

The amendment to the Churches and Congregations Act has been one of the most contentious issues in Estonian religious policy. Critics of the law argued that it restricts church autonomy and interferes excessively in religious organizations. The Supreme Court's ruling puts a clear end to this dispute and confirms the constitutionality of the law.