Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets will propose to the parliament to declare the Moscow Patriarchate a terrorist organization, ERR reports. 

Läänemets said that the ultimate goal is to ban the activities of the Moscow Patriarchate in Estonia. 

The minister said that, according to the ministry and a recent assessment by the Internal Security Police, he has no choice but to act to sever ties between the Estonian Orthodox Church and Moscow.

"In general, as the Minister of the Interior, I have no choice but to propose to the Riigikogu (Estonian parliament) that the activities of the Moscow-based patriarchate be declared a terrorist (organization) and one that supports terrorism. Thus, the Minister of the Interior may apply to the court and propose to terminate the activities of this church organization," he said.

Läänemets emphasized that this will not affect the parishes and does not mean that the churches will be closed, but the connection with Moscow will be cut.