Estonia has announced that it will not extend the residence permit of Metropolitan Eugene of the Estonian Orthodox Church because he poses a threat to national security.
The cleric, whose full name is Valeri Reshetnikov, is expected to leave the country by February 6, Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported on Thursday. Eugene's public statements as a representative of the Moscow Patriarchate would be seen as support for Russia. Russia attacked neighboring Ukraine in February 2022 and has been waging war against it ever since.
“Representatives of the Ministry of the Interior have repeatedly met with Reshetnikov to explain to him that he must stop justifying the Kremlin regime and Russia's military actions in his statements,” said the Estonian border guard spokesman. But the priest didn't change his behavior. Therefore it represents “a security threat”.
The Estonian parliament declared Russia a terrorist state. Reshetnikov has lived in the Baltic State for four years, having had his residence permit renewed two years ago – before Russia invaded Ukraine.
(politician – sk)