Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Estonia regarding the potential implications of amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act passed by the Parliament of Estonia for the religious freedom, minority rights and civil liberties of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

The UK Government has seen no evidence that suggests the Estonian Government is seeking to limit the practice of religious freedom. Instead, the revised wording of the proposed legal amendment aims to prevent hostile influence from reaching congregation members through the administrative ties of a religious organisation. We have therefore had no ministerial communication with the Government of Estonia on the subject. The UK is committed to promoting the freedom of religious belief for all and we work closely with international partners, including through the Article 18 Alliance, of which Estonia is a member, to champion freedom of religious belief around the world.