Committee Of European Council Ministers To Examine Position Of Orthodox Church In Estonia On Wednesday

The Committee of the Ministers of the Council of Europe will examine the deputy inquiry on the position of Orthodox believers in Estonia which Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Russian delegation at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), forwarded to the Committee during the latest PACE session. RIA Novosti learned this on Tuesday from the Foreign Church Relations Department of the Moscow Patriarchate. It was noted at the Patriarchate that Dmitry Rogozin intends to attract attention to the fact that "the new law 'On Churches and Parishes' that was recently approved by the Estonian parliament, contains articles running counter to the generally recognized norms in the sphere of freedom of religion as is laid down in international agreements and PACE resolutions." RIA Novosti was told that the first exchange of opinions on the issue will be held when the Committee meets on Wednesday.