The UN confirmed cooperation with Estonia on the issue of the Orthodox Church

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is aware of the amendments proposed by the Estonian parliament to the Law on Churches and Parishes, and is also aware of the problems associated with them, the official representative of the structure, Liz Trossel, told Izvestia.

Patriarchal discord: the Estonian authorities insist on severing the EOC with Moscow

How are the hierarchs fighting to preserve canonical ties, and what does Ukraine have to do with it?

"We continue to work with Estonia to ensure that its legal reforms comply with international human rights standards," she added.

She noted that the observance of minority rights is necessary for any society that claims to be democratic and inclusive.

"Any restrictions must be objectively justified, reasonable and proportionate, non—discriminatory and must not hinder the effective exercise of the right to freedom of religion or belief," she stressed.

Amendments to the Law on Churches and Parishes were approved in the second reading by a majority of parliamentarians on March 26. The third reading will be held on April 9, after which the new version of the law will have to be approved by the president.

According to the authorities, the law should oblige the Estonian Orthodox Church (EOC), which since March 31 has been called the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church (EOCC), to abandon ties with the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

The EOCC insists on its autonomous status, while emphasizing that severing canonical ties with the religious center in Moscow is unacceptable to them.