Draft law amending the Churches and Religious Communities Act (570 UA) - Third Reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-06-18 18:43
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 36
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 40m
AI Summaries: 36/36 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated the draft act on amending the Churches and Congregations Act (570 UA), initiated by the Government of the Republic, during its third reading. The debate centered on the constitutionality of the bill and its impact on religious freedom and security, particularly concerning religious associations affiliated with the Moscow Patriarchate. The opposition (Centre Party, EKRE) argued that the bill remains unconstitutional despite cosmetic changes, and illegally pressures the Estonian Orthodox Church and Pühtitsa Convent to sever canonical ties with Moscow. Vadim Belobrovtsev (Centre Party) expressed hope that the President would refuse to promulgate the law for a second time. Varro Vooglaid (EKRE) stressed that the real issue is ensuring the rule of law, not ‘Estonian-mindedness,’ and warned that the threat of forced termination increases societal division and security risks. Representatives of the coalition and supporting factions (Isamaa, Eesti 200, SDE) defended the bill, emphasizing that it complies with the constitution (referencing the Ministry of the Interior's analysis) and aims to restrict hostile influence activities, not religious freedom. Jaanus Karilaid (Isamaa) and Peeter Tali (Eesti 200) directly linked the Moscow Patriarchate to the Kremlin and the FSB, labeling it ideological support for the Putin regime. Andre Hanimägi (SDE) highlighted that the bill targets an institution that justifies the ideology of violence, not faith itself. Following the discussions, the final vote was conducted.
Decisions Made 1
The draft Act amending the Churches and Congregations Act (570 UA), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was adopted as an Act with 68 votes in favor (17 against, 0 abstentions).
Most Active Speaker
Varro Vooglaid (EKRE faction) was the most active speaker, presenting long and passionate arguments concerning the draft bill's unconstitutionality and the violation of religious freedom. His position regarding this specific bill was oppositional (other/right).
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announces the third item on the agenda and opens the debate on the third reading of the draft act amending the Churches and Congregations Act, inviting Vadim Belobrovtsev on behalf of the Estonian Centre Party faction.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev said that parliament is attempting to push through amendments that conflict with the constitution and exert pressure on the Estonian Christian Orthodox Church to break its ties with the Moscow Patriarchate, and he hopes that the president will remain faithful to the constitution and will not approve such a law.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Thank you for saving time; Jaanus Karilaid submits a request on behalf of and authorized by the Isamaa faction.
Jaanus Karilaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaanus Karilaid stressed that Estonia must protect religious freedom and societal integrity by removing the influence of the Moscow Patriarchate through a broad, constitutionally compliant bill. The adoption of this bill received 75 votes in favor and was supported by Isamaa.
Jaanus Karilaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaanus Karilaid, speaking on behalf of the Isamaa party, firmly supports the bill aimed at restricting the influence of the Moscow Patriarchate in Estonia, given that this institution supports Russia’s military aggression. He refutes opponents’ arguments regarding the restriction of religious freedom, instead accusing them of holding attitudes that divide society. Karilaid stresses that the legislation enjoys a broad political mandate and is in compliance with the constitution, as it merely removes the legal channel for Moscow’s influence operations.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Varro Vooglaid represents the EKRE faction and is delivering a speech.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid sharply criticizes his colleague's attempt to frame the debate over the bill as a confrontation between pro-Estonian and pro-Russian factions, emphasizing that the real issue lies in its constitutionality, since the president declined to proclaim the previous version due to its violation of religious freedom. He further asserts that, according to the Presidential Chancellery, the bill—even with cosmetic changes—remains in conflict with the constitution, while simultaneously categorically rejecting arguments citing security threats as outright falsehoods that, in reality, only serve to deepen societal division.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid claims that the bill is, in the president's assessment, in conflict with the constitution, and that its enforcement will not increase security but will instead divide society and increase risks, which is why the discussion must be based on a genuine constitutional review.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi said that three extra minutes would be given.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid claims that the proposed bill mandates the severing of canonical ties and threatens religious freedom and the constitution, thereby rendering the Estonian state narrow-minded and intolerant, a point he illustrates with the example of the treatment of the nuns of the Pühtitsa Convent.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid sharply criticizes the draft law, stressing that its true purpose is not to ensure security—for which effective legal mechanisms already exist—but rather to force the Pühtitsa Convent and the Estonian Orthodox Church to sever their canonical ties. He argues that this contravenes the constitution by restricting religious freedom, and believes that such a political ambition transforms the Republic of Estonia into an intolerant and narrow-minded entity.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked everyone.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid urged people not to support the bill, stating that otherwise the situation would become even more embarrassing.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is an expression of gratitude and a request, which Peeter Tali is presenting on behalf of the Eesti 200 faction.
Peeter Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Tali is backing a bill aimed at restricting the activities of the Moscow Patriarchate. He stresses that the Russian Orthodox Church is not a church at all, but rather a subcontractor for the Kremlin's intelligence agencies. Its leaders, including Patriarch Kirill (known by the agent name Mikhailov), are former KGB agents who actively promote the imperialist "Russkiy Mir" ideology and support the war in Ukraine. Given that the Moscow church is an integral part of the Putin regime’s vertical of power and is actively engaged in hostile divisive activities within Estonia, the operations of this organization must be swiftly ended in the country. Subordination to Kirill, who is subservient to the Kremlin, is not religious freedom—it is a dangerous vestige of occupation.
Peeter Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Tali claims that the Moscow church in Estonia is an instrument of power for the Putin regime, actively dividing Estonian society through the Kremlin’s influence operations, and therefore its activities in Estonia must be terminated in order to preserve religious freedom.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi requested three more minutes.
Peeter Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Tali emphasized that the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church had offered the Estonian church of the Moscow Patriarchate a Christian hand of friendship in the form of a vicariate, aiming to help them maintain canonicity. However, given that the Moscow Church's Estonian organization has responded with inflexible behavior and brutal attacks against the Estonian state, it is imperative to support the draft law. This law provides Orthodox congregations with a clear legislative framework, enabling them to manage their ecclesiastical affairs independently.
Peeter Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Tali called upon the Estonia 200 faction to support the bill, the purpose of which is to provide the Estonian Church of the Moscow Patriarchate with a canonical framework and the opportunity to preserve its character and role, thus preventing it from turning into a sect, while emphasizing the separation of the Estonian church and state and the historical activity of the Petseri and Kuremäe Monasteries. He also affirmed that once the law is adopted, Orthodox believers will manage well on their own, with God's help.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks you and, acting under mandate on behalf of the SDP faction, introduces Andre Hanimägi.
Andre Hanimägi
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Andre Hanimägi stressed that the draft bill only restricts the administrative links of religious institutions, does not interfere with faith or prayer, and emphasizes the separation of the church's and state's secular and spiritual powers, as well as the necessity of reducing the influence of the Moscow Patriarchate.
Andre Hanimägi
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Andre Hanimägi emphasized that the purpose of the bill under consideration is to restrict the administrative ties of religious associations that could introduce hostile influence activities into Estonia, thereby drawing a clear distinction between faith and the institution. This is because the Moscow Patriarchate has become an ideological pillar of the Putin regime, justifying violence and spreading the ideology of the Russian World, which is why the connection must be severed specifically with this institution, and not with Orthodoxy or the vow made to Christ.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks you and, on behalf of the EKRE faction, asks Varro Vooglaid to deliver a response speech.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid asserted that he is not fracturing society; rather, he is demonstrating that the true dividers are those who threaten the church and religious communities and restrict religious freedom. He further stressed that Estonia must remain a constitutional state governed by the rule of law, and not adopt the practices of the Soviet Union.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid rejected Jaanus Karilaid’s accusations of dividing society, pointing out that the truly divisive action is forcing the church to sever its canonical ties. He further stressed that issues concerning religious freedom must be based on the principles of the rule of law and the constitution, rather than following the precedent of forceful intervention set during the Soviet occupation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The response statement on behalf of the Isamaa faction will be presented by Jaanus Karilaid.
Jaanus Karilaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaanus Karilaid stated that he voted in favor of the Moscow declaration on May 6, 2024 (75 in favor, 8 against). He did not criticize the president on behalf of Isamaa, but instead focused on the earlier adoption of the bill and the severing of legal and administrative ties with the Moscow Patriarchate. He also acknowledged that Varro finally responded to the 1944 argument. He currently has no further comments.
Jaanus Karilaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaanus Karilaid explained his vote in favor of the May 6 statement concerning Moscow, emphasizing that his primary goal is to sever all legal and administrative ties with the Moscow Patriarchate. He added that the previous draft bill was also substantively good and that Varro finally addressed the 1944 argument.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked [the assembly/the speaker] and asked Vadim Belobrovtsev to deliver the reply speech on behalf of the Estonian Centre Party faction.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev criticizes Jaanus Karilaid’s presentation and the speech by the representative of Eesti 200, accuses them of demagoguery, and asserts that the draft bill is unconstitutional. He also hopes that the president will declare it unconstitutional for a second time.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Deputy Speaker thanked [the previous speaker] and called upon Peeter Tali to deliver a response speech on behalf of the Eesti 200 faction.
Peeter Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Tali thanked the chairman and advised them to read carefully from the transcript what he said and what he did not say. He also said that the bill has been amended and hopes that it will become law and the president will sign it.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He thanks, concludes the discussion, and asks the session chairman, Andrei Korobeinik, to pose a question.
Andrei Korobeinik
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
At the beginning of the speech, he thanks the chair and asks on what basis the representative of Eesti 200 was just given the opportunity for a reply.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi stressed that parliamentary groups are entitled to one right of reply, and the presiding officer may restrict it. He also announced that following the roll call, the final vote would be held on the adoption of Draft Legislation 570 UA, which requires a Riigikogu majority—that is, at least 51 votes in favor.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Riigikogu passed Bill 570 into law: 68 members voted in favor, 17 were against, and there were 0 abstentions.