On January 2, 2026, Estonia announced a security-related ban preventing Roman Kolesnikov, a priest of the Russian Orthodox Church who began service in Estonia’s Orthodox Christian Church in fall 2025, from entering the country. The Ministry of Interior imposed the ban due to fears that Kolesnikov could threaten Estonia’s constitutional security, citing his alleged connections to Russian security services and his support for Russia’s aggressive policies. This marks the first time a clergyman has been banned from Estonia on such grounds in 2026. The Estonian Orthodox Christian Church, formerly part of the Moscow Patriarchate, has not made an official comment on the matter. The ministry stressed the use of structures of the Russian Orthodox Church by Russia for intelligence activities to justify the ban.
Category: Political & Legal Subversion
Subcategory: Lawfare & Legal Pressure
Country: Estonia
Source report: news.err.ee/160989964…
